SEATTLE - A new bronze statue of an adult male silverback gorilla at Woodland Park Zoo pays tribute to the late James W. Foster, D.V.M., the zoo’s first full-time veterinarian. The life-sized sculpture, provided through donations by the family of Dr. Foster, joins an existing gorilla family of bronze statues – all created by renowned Northwest artist Georgia Gerber. Zoo-goers will find the statues just steps away from the zoo’s western lowland gorilla exhibit along the award-winning Tropical Rain Forest loop.

“ A gorilla sculpture is befitting to honor a man whose life was unwaveringly dedicated to the survival of wildlife and, particularly, mountain gorillas,” noted Jane Foster, the widow of Dr. Foster and a resident of Bellevue, Wash. “We hope our gift provides many delightful experiences for zoo visitors and memorable snapshots for the photo albums,” added Foster.

“ We are very grateful and honored to receive this generous gift from the Foster family,” said zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen, “and thrilled to once again infuse the spirit of Gerber into our artwork.” The father figure completes the family trio of gorillas, which were commissioned in 1992 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Morse IV. These sculptures of a juvenile lowland gorilla and a mother carrying an infant on her back were part of a special fundraising campaign for the Tropical Rain Forest.

Among his legacies, Foster became Woodland Park Zoo’s first full-time, paid veterinarian in 1971 and paved the way for a more professional and scientific approach to the zoo’s animal collection. This approach included establishing the zoo’s successful Eagle Release Program and advocating for a new animal health complex. In 1986, at the request of late primatologist Dr. Dian Fossey and with funding from the Morris Animal Foundation, Foster established the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center in Rwanda, Africa, where he developed a health plan for the mountain gorillas and remained active up until his death.

Sculptor Georgia Gerber, whose artwork includes the famous Rachel the Market Pig and a baboon family at the zoo, creates bronzes at her own studio/foundry on Whidbey Island, Wash. and works primarily with life-sized animal and human figures, often including architectural or abstract elements into the design.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, top award-winning Woodland ParkZoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.