12/04/10 

Melbourne Zoo's silverback gorilla, Motaba and his two sons Yakini and Ganyeka will soon be settling in to a brand new bachelor pad at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The Victorian Government has provided the lion's share of funding announcing they will finance $1.5 million to build the important new exhibit.

The new development will be located on an island close to the entrance of Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The three bachelors are currently housed in an area of Melbourne Zoo which is slated for redevelopment, once the gorillas move to their new home at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Gorilla family groups are polygamous in nature and there is only one silverback breeding male in the group at a time.

Motaba has already sired five young, so the silverback Rigo has been introduced to the Zoo's family group with a view to breeding with the four females.

In the wild, young males leave their family group, sometimes teaming up with other young males also waiting until they are fully mature and have a chance of forming a group of their own, or potentially taking over a group headed by an old male.

Zoos Victoria has kicked off a campaign to raise the remaining $700,000 to complete the exhibit. Be part of this exciting project and donate today.

or for more information contact the Zoos Victoria Foundation team
9285 9300 zvfoundation@zoo.org.au