GROUP ONE
PETE
Adult Male
Born: Wild-born in 1968. Father of Jumoke and Alafia. Grandfather of Nadiri, Naku and Akenji.
Weight: 425 pounds (193 kg)
History: A member of the original Woodland Park Zoo group, Pete is the group leader. As an older male with much parenting and leadership experience, he provides a lot of stability for the group.
Characteristics: Red hair on head and silver back, asymmetrical facial features, deep-set eyes, "frowning" expression
NINA
Adult Female
Born: Wild-born in 1968. Mother of Alafia, grandmother of Naku and surrogate mother to Akenji.
Weight: 262 pounds (119 kg)
History: Member of the original Woodland Park Zoo group, Nina is the matriarch of this group and a very good mother, grandmother and great grandmother with four surviving offspring (three at other zoos). Nina is a great adoptive mother to Akenji and they have a very close bond. Due to a kidney problem, Nina is on birth control pills to prevent her from becoming pregnant.
Distinguishing features: Short, stocky stature, wrinkled face, large, round stomach. While resting, she sometimes has her mouth open, revealing a pink inner mouth and tongue. Nina is very interested in people.
NADIRI
Adult Female
Born: February 12, 1996. Daughter of Congo and Jumoke. Half sister to Akenji.
Weight: 214 pounds (92 kg)
History: Jumoke (in gorilla group 2) was unable to raise Nadiri due to a traumatic delivery. Nadiri was hand-raised by zoo staff and gradually introduced at 5-1/2 months old to this group, her adoptive family. Nadiri is gentle and playful with Akenji and Naku. She is very important genetically to the captive population of gorillas because she is the only living offspring of her father, Congo, who died two weeks after Nadiri's birth.
Characteristics: Nadiri often plays with zoo visitors through the viewing glass. She is more slender than Nina.
NAKU
Juvenile Female
Born: October 8, 2000 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Vip and Alafia. Half sister of Akenji.
Weight: 125 pounds (57 kg)
History: Because her mother is dominant in the group, Naku also has a position of power. She sometimes dominates other members in the group, too.
Distinguishing Features: Her ears stick out more than Akenji's ears. Naku is also taller than Akenji and has scruffy hair. She often plays and roughhouses with Akenji, sometimes letter Akenji ride on her back.
AKENJI
Infant Female
Born: July 24, 2001 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Vip and Jumoke. Adoptive mother is Nina.
Weight: 110 pounds (50 kg)
History: Jumoke was unwilling to raise Akenji, so she was partially hand-raised by zoo staff. She was slowly introduced to this group and has a close bond with Nina, her adoptive mother.
Characteristics: She is the smallest member of the group. She has a small face and smooth hair, and is stockier than Naku. Very independent and confident, Akenji often plays with Naku.
GROUP TWO
VIP
Adult Male
Born: January 26, 1979. Father of Ngozi, Naku, Akenji and Calaya. Weight: 445 pounds (202 kg)
History: Vip was the first captive-born gorilla in the Netherlands, eventually moving to the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. In 1996 he moved here and became the leader of this group. Because he has no breeding relative in North America, his offspring are especially valuable to the captive gorilla population. Vip is an excellent father and takes great interest in his offspring. He has sired five daughters while at Woodland Park Zoo.
Characteristics: Very low brow ridge (which makes him look agitated), extremely large head, very black hair with a striking silvery back. The toes on both feet are often curled.
JUMOKE
Adult Female
Born: May 9, 1985 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Pete. Mother of Nadiri and Akenji.
Weight: 265 pounds (120 kg)
History: Reared in Group 1, Jumoke was moved out to avoid inbreeding. She was unable to rear her first offspring, Nadiri. She then proved to be a good mother to her second offspring (who now lives at another zoo), but surprised zoo staff by refusing to rear her third offspring, Akenji.
Distinguishing features: Black back, taller than Amanda, has a higher, more pointed crest. Jumoke is a good tool user and is very confident around Vip.
AMANDA
Adult Female
Born: Wild-born in 1970. Mother of Ngozi and Calaya.
Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg)
History: Raised at the Toronto Zoo, Amanda moved to Woodland Park Zoo in 1994. She gave birth to her first offspring in 1995, but the male infant died five days later. She then gave birth to Ngozi in March 1998 and Calaya in August 2002. She is an excellent mother.
Characteristics: Prominent silver back, small but muscular stature (especially in upper body), small, smooth face with longer hair on her arms than Jumoke.
CALAYA
Juvenile Female
Born: August 30, 2002 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Vip and Amanda
Weight: 85 pounds (39 kg) History: Calaya is the second surviving offspring of Amanda and Vip. As the youngest member of the group, she is tolerated by all other members.
Distinguishing features: Calaya is independent and a great climber.
UZUMMA
Infant Female
Born: October 20, 2007 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Vip and Amanda
Weight: 4.5 pounds (2.0412 kg) at birth History: This is the third surviving offspring of Amanda and Vip. As the youngest member of the group, she is tolerated by all other members. Distinguishing features: Mostly held in the arms of mother Amanda. As she grows, she will become more independent.