The entire group of gorillas enjoyed the anniversary “party” for Fossey that the animal care team in charge of her well-being prepared with her favorite stimuli.
In the BIOPARC Valencia area that recreates lush tropical forests, the gorilla group enjoyed a unique day yesterday when they discovered the pleasant surprise that awaited them when they went out to their outdoor enclosure with a festive and colorful decoration and, especially, with a large fruit and vegetable cake, skewers and garlands. The reason was very special, as it was to celebrate the Fossey's 25th Anniversary, the oldest female in the group, and they have all participated in these special enrichments prepared by the animal care team.
Protecting this species, which is classified as “critically endangered” by the IUCN Red List, is vital to prevent its disappearance.
Fossey was born at Frankfurt Zoo in 1999 and arrived at BIOPARC Valencia in 2007 following the recommendations of specialists at the European Programme for the Conservation of Endangered Species (EEP). Taking into account that Gorillas are critically endangered, the priority objective is controlled breeding while maintaining the greatest well-being of each animal.
These Conservation initiatives are based on scientific principles to coordinate breeding under human protection that achieves genetically viable populations that can ensure the survival of the species. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that elaborates the Red List of Threatened Species considers this course of action for animal parks to be necessary.
The name of the “birthday girl” is loaded with symbolism, as it is a tribute to the primatologist Dian Fossey, who was able to awaken the interest of society in this impressive species, even though it cost her her life. Her tenacity in investigating, publicizing and defending the mountain gorillas she loved so much brought her face to face with the feared poaching in Rwanda. And her intense work for more than two decades in what is now the Virunga Mountains sanctuary, showed that a single person can make a difference in saving a species. The book Gorillas in the Mist, on which the well-known film of the same name starring Sigourney Weaver was based, allows us to remember her struggle.
The BIOPARC Foundation and the Valencian park are fully committed to their conservation by participating in international projects to try to guarantee their survival through controlled breeding under scientific criteria and defending their threatened natural habitats.
The family group of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at BIOPARC Valencia has been growing over the years. It is currently led by the silverback Mambie, together with Fossey and his son Pepe, Nalani and her daughter Virunga, and Ali with his sons Ebo and Felix. Visitors to the park can observe these impressive animals in an environment that faithfully recreates their habitat, where They coexist with white-crowned mangabeys, a primate species also in serious danger of extinction.. The BIOPARC multispecies enclosures are a benchmark for the benefits they bring to animals, since the fact of cohabiting and interacting provides them with interesting stimuli and favors the development of their natural behaviors.
La BIOPARC Foundation along with its wildlife conservation parks Valencia y Fuengirola, which are home to the largest group of gorillas in Spain, keep Dian Fossey's legacy alive, also actively participating in the protection of gorillas in their natural habitatIn this case, with the outstanding project developed in Cameroon, which aims to study and protect the Ebo forest, a treasure trove of biodiversity and refuge for gorillas and other endangered species.
