Gorillas are naturally one of Kongo’s favorites when he visits a zoo and today he spent some time with this gorilla family at the San Diego Safari Park in Escondido, California.
The little gorilla is five year-old Frank. Like most five year boys he gets into trouble because he’s so rambunctious. Young male gorillas have much closer bonds with their mothers and other troop females than their fathers so Frank ambled off for a wrestling match with his aunt.
It was amazing to watch their interactions and the expressions on their faces as they rolled around.
There’s a brand new monkey in this gorilla troop and its mother was showing it off but not too much. She would come down close to the crowd and then turn her back away. You could really only see the infant when mom was walking back and forth. This is kind of an interesting story. This baby gorilla was born to Imani, its mother, on March 12 after an emergency C-section. The baby also had a collapsed lung. Because of the complications Imani didn’t actually get to be with her baby girl until ten days later but once she got it she hasn’t let go. Frank seems a bit jealous of all the attention Imani is giving the baby.
While the mother was out with the baby, Winston, the powerfully built silver back kept a close eye on things. He clearly wasn’t going to put up with any nonsense. He had the look.
Frank likes to dance by himself. He was full of energy.
The San Diego Safari Park is part of the San Diego Zoo complex and is located about thirty miles north of the main soon in Escondido. It’s a great way to spend the day.
Travel safe. Have fun.
Great story and pictures. I used to have some zoo photos which I had framed and hung along a long hallway. I nicknamed a similar (male) gorilla after my then boss “xxx in a board/bored meeting.” Gave me a chuckle every time I had to sit in on one of his “state of the nation” talks. By the way, what the heck has happened to Winston’s coat? He is looking particularly scruffy!