Gladys Porter Zoo welcomes new female gorilla

Kiazi, a 13-year-old female Western lowland gorilla is the newest member of the gorilla family at the Gladys Porter Zoo. She made her public debut on Dec. 30 at the gorilla habitat known as Gorilla Island.

"Kiazi is adapting well with the other female gorillas," Jerry Stones, facilities director at the Zoo, said. "She is very easy going."

Kiazi was born at the Pittsburg Zoo and is on breeding loan from Cincinnati Zoo. Zookeepers plan to slowly introduce her to Moja, Gorilla Island’s silverback gorilla. Hopefully, the two gorillas will have chemistry and successfully bred. Kiazi has never produced offspring before. Western lowland gorillas along with all species of gorillas are considered rare and endangered.

The Gladys Porter Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums sponsored Species Survival Plan (SSP) for gorillas. The SSP manages the population of Western lowland gorillas in AZA facilities in order to maintain genetic diversity and demographic stability.

As a new member to the Zoo family, Kiazi has acclimated well to a new diet that consists of kale, lead tree leaves, apples, oranges, bananas, sweet potato and antioxidant-rich watermelon. She has also been placed on a multi-vitamin to ensure optimal health.

The public is invited to visit the Zoo and consider adopting Kiazi. By adopting Kiazi you can help pay for the cost of her care, food and housing for a year. Consider adopting your favorite zoo animal, all Adopt- An-Animal proceeds help in the care, feeding, and housing of the animal sponsored.

For more information, contact Cristina Caballero, public relations coordinator at ccaballero@gpz.org or (956) 546-7187.