Gorillas in the West is an exciting new development, which will see Melbourne Zoo’s male ‘bachelor’ Gorillas moved to a new 10,000 m² home at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Project Cost: $2.25 million
Total Raised: $1.55 million
Remaining: $700,000

Melbourne Zoo is home to two Gorilla groups housed in separate facilities - a family of adult Gorillas comprising male Rigo and four females, and a bachelor group comprising a ‘retired' breeding male, Motaba, and his two male progeny, Ghubari and Yadumu.

In the wild as juvenile males mature into adulthood they eventually challenge the dominant male in the group for supremacy. Our young males at Melbourne Zoo are approaching this age where new dominating behaviours are emerging. In the wild these issues are resolved by males leaving their family group and forming loose associations with other young adult males.

The new Gorilla Sanctuary at Werribee will enable Zoos Victoria to respond to the regional breeding needs of the European Endangered species Program for Gorillas facilitate research activities.

Once operational, this new Gorilla facility at Werribee will enable Zoos Victoria to provide best-practice care for the Bachelor Gorillas and confirm the organisation's reputation as a world leader in Gorilla management.

HOW TO HELP: 

• Be part of this exciting project and donate today.
• For more information, or for Corporate Partnership opportunities please contact the Zoos Victoria Foundation team 9285 9300 zvfoundation@zoo.org.au

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

• The Victorian State Government - $1.25 million
• PETstock - $50,000

		Gorillas in the West zvf_gorilla.pdf  ( 129.7 KB ) Summary document about the exciting project to re-house our gorillas