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

photo: Mat Hayward

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.

ALAFIA
Adult Female

Born: November 30, 1990 at Woodland Park Zoo. Daughter of Pete and Nina, mother of Naku, and aunt of Nadiri and Akenji.

Weight: 265 pounds (120 kg)

History: Alafia is the dominant female in the group. Because she couldn't breed with her father (Pete), keepers arranged for a daily rendezvous between Alafia and Vip, the male of Group 2. Alafia became pregnant, but due to social dynamics, zoo staff decided it would be better for both groups if Alafia stayed in her natal group. She has proven to be an excellent first-time mother to Naku.

Characteristics: Red head like her father (Pete), prominent brow ridge, taller than Nina.

photo: Mat Hayward

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 and Alafia.

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. Nakuy is also taller than Akenji and has scruffy hair. She often plays and roughhouses with Akenji, sometimes letter Akenji ride on her back.

photo: Mat Hayward

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.