Ten years after her ‘miracle’ birth, young gorilla arrives in jersey to help protect her species

Afia’s move across the Channel from Bristol Zoo Project supports conservation breeding for Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas.

• Born by the UK’s first successful emergency caesarean section for a gorilla in 2016
• Hand-reared by keepers before being successfully reintroduced to her troop
• Now arrived at Jersey Zoo following a major conservation collaboration between Bristol Zoological Society and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
• Settling into Jersey Zoo’s newly opened state-of-the-art gorilla habitat
• Conservationists hope Afia could one day raise young of her own and help secure the future of her species

A gorilla who made headlines across the UK after being born by emergency caesarean section has arrived at Jersey Zoo to begin the next stage of her life.

Afia, a western lowland gorilla born in 2016, travelled across the Channel from Bristol Zoo Project this week before settling into her new home at Jersey Zoo – the headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Her move is part of the European conservation breeding programme helping protect western lowland gorillas, which are listed as Critically Endangered in the wild.

Earlier this year, Afia and the rest of Bristol Zoo Project’s gorilla troop moved into the zoo’s brand-new African Forest – a new development set in local woodland that gives visitors the chance to experience critically endangered species including western lowland gorillas in expansive, natural habitats.

She has now joined four western lowland gorillas already living at Jersey Zoo – Badongo, Bahasha, Hlala Kahilli and Amari – at the conservation charity founded by author and conservationist Gerald Durrell.

Durrell’s Director of Zoo Operations, Mark Habben, said:

“Afia’s story has been extraordinary from the very beginning, and we’re incredibly proud to welcome her to Jersey Zoo. Moves like this are an important part of ensuring a healthy future for western lowland gorillas, and we hope Afia will settle well into the troop and, one day, raise young of her own here.

“Our new gorilla habitat has been designed to give the troop as much choice and freedom as possible. We’re looking forward to watching Afia explore her new home and become part of the group.”

At Bristol Zoo Project, Curator of Mammals Sarah Gedman has watched Afia grow from a vulnerable newborn into a confident young gorilla ready for the next stage of her life.

Sarah, who was there when Afia was born almost ten years ago, travelled to Jersey and is helping her settle into her new home.

“Watching Afia grow from a vulnerable newborn into a confident adolescent gorilla has been incredibly special for all of us at Bristol Zoo Project. Despite the challenges she faced at the start of her life, she has absolutely flourished during her time here and become an important part of the conservation breeding programme for western lowland gorillas.

“As Afia has reached adulthood, we’ve always known the time would come for her to move on and hopefully start a family of her own. For me personally, it feels like a real full circle moment. I was there when Afia was born almost ten years ago, and now I’ve travelled to Jersey and am helping her settle into her new home.

“Joining the troop at Jersey Zoo is absolutely the right next step for her. Once she’s fully settled and confident in her new surroundings, I’ll know it’s time for me to leave her to begin this exciting new chapter of her life.”

Afia’s arrival in Jersey comes almost ten years after she made headlines around the world following her extraordinary birth.

She became the first gorilla in the UK to be successfully delivered by emergency caesarean section after her mother, Kera, became critically ill during pregnancy.

Because Kera was initially too unwell to care for her newborn, Afia was hand-reared by specialist keepers during the first ten months of her life before eventually being reintroduced to the gorilla troop – something considered a major achievement in gorilla care.

As she passes her tenth birthday, Afia is now beginning an exciting new chapter at Jersey Zoo, where she is settling into the zoo’s newly opened gorilla house – one of the most advanced habitats for gorillas in Europe

Opened earlier this year by HRH The Princess Royal, the new habitat is nine times larger than the zoo’s previous gorilla house and has been designed to give the gorillas more space to climb, forage, play and interact naturally, with climbing structures, ropes, deep bark flooring and dedicated indoor spaces for the troop.

The creation of this state-of-the-art habitat was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of the many individuals, families, businesses, trusts and foundations who supported Durrell’s fundraising efforts. Their support has enabled Jersey Zoo to provide a world-class home for western lowland gorillas and strengthen its contribution to the conservation of this Critically Endangered species.

You can follow Afia’s journey at Jersey Zoo and find out more about the important conservation work of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.