Louisville Zoo Welcomes New Western Lowland Gorilla

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 15, 2024) – The Louisville Zoo is happy to announce the newest addition to its extended family and its award-winning Gorilla Forest habitat: 11-year-old western lowland gorilla, Patty.

Patty’s arrival creates a new gorilla troop which includes silverback Casey (42 years old), adult females Paki 35 years old) and Kweli (40 years old) and young female Kindi (8 years old). Patty and her family group will be in exhibit rotation with bachelor groups including Bengati, Jelani, Cecil and Kicho.

Patty was born at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo and comes to the Louisville Zoo with a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. In time, she will be paired with silverback gorilla, Casey.

Her zookeepers say that Patty is a socially savvy gorilla. Her acclimation to the new environment and integration into the established group is going smoothly.

Louisville Director Dan Maloney expressed his enthusiasm about the newest resident. “Welcoming Patty to the Louisville Zoo adds an exciting new element to Gorilla Forest,” Maloney said. “Welcoming a relatively young, unrelated female gorilla to our Zoo is quite an accomplishment and we credit her addition to the hard work of our Animal Care Team. We are eager to witness her growth, and hopefully see her successfully become a mom with male gorilla Casey soon!” 

Gorilla Conservation Status

Only found in the dense forests of central Africa, gorillas are critically endangered and could face extinction if stronger efforts are not mounted to protect them. The primary threats to their survival are illegal poaching, civil unrest, disease, and habitat destruction due to extractive industries such as mining.

Zoo Hours

The Zoo is open daily year-round. Summer hours are 10 a.m. ─ 5 p.m. (stay until 6 p.m.) through Sept. 22, 2024. The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Visit louisvillezoo.org for more info.

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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).