Buffalo Zoo says goodbye to male gorilla Kayin

Buffalo Zoo Press Release

Last week, the Buffalo Zoo said goodbye to Kayin, the male western lowland gorilla who arrived safely at his new home, the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri.

Kayin’s move was based on a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and was made through the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) for western lowland gorillas, a conservation program that manages a genetically healthy population of this species in North American zoos.

Kayin, a 7-year-old, previously lived in a family troop at the Buffalo Zoo. He was born in 2016 and had lived with his parents (Koga and Sidney), aunt (Lily) and half-sister (Nyah). At 7 years old, Kayin is reaching the age when free-living male gorillas will typically leave their family group in the wild in search of a new bachelor group or mating partner.

Kayin will be joining a bachelor group at the Saint Louis Zoo, which includes three silverbacks: Joe, Bakari and Zachary. Adult male gorillas are also known as “silverbacks.” Bachelor groups are groups of silverbacks and young adult male gorillas that live and travel together and are a type of social group commonly found in the wild.

The population of western lowland gorillas in the wild has declined by over 60% in the past 25 years due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade, and emerging diseases, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

About the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Grounds remain open for one hour after admission gates close. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the third-oldest zoo in the country. The Buffalo Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, visit www.buffalozoo.org.