Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications
Nadaya is a very handsome silverback!Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Many of you have asked for updates on the western lowland gorilla family. Let’s start with silverback Nadaya, who will be celebrating her 22nd birthday on April 4th. Nadaya lives with her three females: Olympia, Jamani and Jumoke. Last year, Nadaya, Olympia and Jamani arrived here at the Woodland Park Zoo to form a new family group with Jumoke, who has been living alone since the death of her Vip (male companion) in 2021. You may remember The group get along well together and seem relaxed and at ease in each other’s company. This is a very good sign of bonding.
Nadaya and Olympia.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Our gorilla keepers already know Jumoke and are thrilled to see her thriving as a family group again. And to build a relationship of trust with them. As it happens, one of our keepers gave her one of them Nadaya a bit of a head start.
Nadaya, pictured left with her mother Baraka in 2001, was her parents’ first child and an adorable baby.Photo Courtesy: Zoological Society of Chicago/Brookfield Zoo |
The name Nadaya is derived from the Nigerian word Hausa, where ‘na daya’ means ‘first’ or ‘first person’, a fitting name for the first offspring of their parents. Nadaya was born in Chicago in April 2001. In Chicago her Rachel, one of the gorilla keepers, was studying primatology. This included plenty of research time at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. There, Nadaya was a baby and Rachel later became a primate keeper. Both as a student researcher and as an animal keeper, Rachel spent time with Nadaya and his family from early childhood until he was nearly nine years old.
Infant Nadaya (left) with her mother Baraka in 2001 and Nadaya (right) at age 3 in 2004 with her grandmother Babs.Photo courtesy Jan Parkes |
Fast forward to 2022. Rachel says she has been a gorilla keeper at the Woodland Park Zoo for nearly a decade and the Gorilla Species Survival Program (SSP) is working with the animal care team to identify suitable silverbacks and bring Jumok and her I was forming two new family groups. Another woman who had come to join her.
The Silverback is an adult male, so named because when it reaches maturity around the age of 13 to 15, it grows silvery hair on its back and thighs. They play an important role in gorilla families by protecting and maintaining peace between groups. Often too old to be together but not mature enough to lead their own groups, they live in single groups. Both in the wild and in accredited zoos around the world, bachelor groups can provide social development opportunities for these silverbacks.
Nadaya, 8 years old.Photo Courtesy: Zoological Society of Chicago/Brookfield Zoo |
The SSP recommended a male from the St. Louis Zoo bachelor’s group as a suitable choice for the Woodland Park Zoo. These recommendations are based on more than genetics. Yes, good genetic match is important for the long-term survival of zoo populations and the health of each individual. But for gorillas, temperament and character are just as important. Joining her in 2022 was a priority.
Nadaya is a relaxed, calm and mature leader to her family.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
There were several well-matched men in the St. Louis bachelor group, but one in particular caught the attention of Rachel and another member of the animal care team, Nadaya! A calm and silly young man moved with his brother to the St. Louis Zoo when he grew up. I agreed that the experience I had growing up as part of a large multi-generational family suggested that he would be perfect to be the leader of my group. in Seattle.
When it comes to moving gorillas, it’s important that they are comfortable moving around and that they settle down properly in their new homes. In Nadaya’s case, it was going to include one of her St. Louis Zoo keepers and Rachel. Rachel flew to St. Louis a few days ago to allow time for her and Nadaya to reunite before she flew back to Seattle last June.
Nadaya is as handsome as they come…and I’m sure the woman who lives with him thinks so too! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
When she finally got the chance to visit him backstage, Rachel says both Nadaya and his brother Bakari, who lived in the bachelor group, immediately seemed comfortable in her presence. Nadaya greeted her with the expected display of a man: heartbeat, posture, rushing around, making noise, avoiding eye contact, but both Nadaya and his brother looked at her and calmed down. I greeted her with a light “content grunt” in the vocalization—a sort of bass that suggests contentment and ease.
Over the next few days, Rachel says Nadaya watched her quietly, sitting near the other side of the display window, or spent considerable time at the access door leading to the area where the animal keepers worked. . A sure sign that he was comfortable. Nadaya was ready to begin the next chapter and ready to meet her new family.
Nadaya is an accomplished and confident climber.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Nearly a year later, Nadaya has settled into her new role here at Woodland Park Zoo, proving to be a relaxed, calm and mature leader for her family. routine. As a young boy, he loved climbing high on structures in the Brookfield Zoo habitat and watching people from above. Even though he’s a lot bigger now (he weighs about 420 pounds), he’s still a good climber and loves the views of everyone around him.
Nadaya likes to sit on things and even put her feet up like an easy chair and ottoman.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Animal keepers say they prefer to sit on objects rather than directly on the ground, even when they’re not on high ground. It could be a hammock or even a rubber tub. He has a (very sturdy) shower chair in one of his backstage rooms and he likes to sit there. Ottoman. All the while, he likes to be close to all the women in the group.
Besides being near meth, Nadaya’s favorite foods include romaine, peanuts, grapes and bananas.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Nadaya, Jumoke, 37, Olympia, 26, and Jamani, 22, all bond and get along well. All three females are close to Nadaya, except behind the scenes she separates them for one-on-one training (which helps build trust between the gorilla and the animal keeper). I like it.
The social status of females in gorilla families is fluid and changes over time as the structure of the group evolves or changes. All of these females have dominant streaks at different times depending on what is at stake or who is nearby, but by and large they all get along well.
Jumoke is the dominant female in Nadaya’s family.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Jumoke tends to be the highest ranked woman right now, especially in Nadaya’s eyes. She seems to know how to “flatter” him when he shows off his Silverback swagger, and how to soften him up if he gets nervous or agitated.
Among the women, Jumoke did not share a particularly close relationship with any of the women in the previous groups, but that changed this time. He says he has built a great bond with both of them. You may remember that Jamani and Jumoke are actually related through their beloved silverback Pete, who passed away in 2018 (they probably don’t realize it).
Jamani is a very social gorilla.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Jamani seems to get along equally well with each individual in the group and knows how to adapt to different personalities and expectations. Her favorite foods are fruit and popcorn and she loves finding hidden snacks in food puzzle toys.
Olympia was a dominant female in her previous group at the North Carolina Zoo where she lived with Giamani, but her current attitude is either indulgence, sensitivity or subservience to both other females. Her favorite treats are fruit and rose petals.
Beautiful Olympia is sweet and sensitive.Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
So what is the future for Nadaya and his women? Parenting is the most likely plan for this group. Not now, but it’s possible that one of the females in this group will get pregnant in the next year or two. There is no doubt that Nadaya will be a great father. Babies are always a fun and exciting addition to any family, including the gorilla family.
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