Buffalo Zoo Ships Off a Gorilla - Memphis Zoo Gains a New Female Gorilla

By Jennifer Fields

Buffalo, NY - Kwizera, one of the Buffalo Zoo’s four female gorillas, has found a new home at the Memphis Zoo.

Kwizera, a 21-year-old western lowland gorilla, left the Buffalo Zoo early Friday morning and was transferred to Memphis on a breeding loan. This is the first time the Memphis Zoo has partnered with another zoo on a gorilla breeding loan in more than 30 years.

Accompanied by Buffalo Zoo veterinarian Dr. Kurt Volle, as well as Memphis Zoo primate keeper Nancy Charles, Kwizera was safely received at the Memphis Zoo where she is reported to be doing well.

Kwizera will be off exhibit for approximately one month and then will be introduced to the Memphis Zoo’s two female gorillas, Kebara and Penny. Once they have established a strong bond, the group will also be integrated with the male, Mwelu.

Already proven to be a good mother to daughter Sidney, who remains at the Buffalo Zoo, it is hoped that Kwizera and Mwelu will produce offspring to help secure this endangered species’ future. Kwizera’s pairing with Mwelu was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through the gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP). This program is designed to maintain genetic diversity within gorilla populations housed in zoos.

The Buffalo Zoo has also received a breeding recommendation for Kwizera’s daughter, Sidney, and male, Koga, who was transferred from the Memphis Zoo in 2007. While Koga gets along well with females Becky (Kwizera’s sister) and Lily (Kwizera’s niece), Sidney has quickly become his favorite.

Since 1990, nine surviving gorilla babies have been born at the Buffalo Zoo. The most recent birth was Lily, who was born in 2000.

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