Forty years ago this week, Jambo became known around the world after an extraordinary encounter with a young boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo.
On the anniversary of the moment which cemented the silverback’s place in Island history, the zoo said another “calm and reassuring” gentle giant is following in his footsteps.
Jambo was Jersey Zoo’s silverback from 1972 until his death in 1992, becoming one of its most famous residents.
But it was on 31 August 1986 that he attracted worldwide attention after five-year-old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla enclosure.
Rather than attacking the injured boy, Jambo famously stood guard over him – an encounter which challenged perceptions of gorillas and earned him an enduring reputation as a “gentle giant”.
And four decades on, Jersey Zoo says it sees many of the same qualities in Badongo, the silverback leading its current troop.
“Western lowland gorillas have always been an important part of our story at Jersey Zoo, and Jambo was an extraordinary ambassador for his species,” Director of Zoo Operations Mark Habben told Express.
“A true gentle giant, he left an incredible legacy that continues to resonate with people around the world.
“We see many of those same qualities in Badongo, the silverback who leads our current troop.
“He is a calm and reassuring presence within the group, and a wonderful ambassador who helps visitors develop a deeper appreciation for these remarkable, Critically Endangered animals.”
More than 60 years of gorillas in Jersey
Gorillas have actually been part of Jersey Zoo since the very beginning.
Western lowland gorillas arrived in 1959, the year Gerald Durrell opened the zoo, with its first gorilla, N’Pongo, becoming the first mammal entered into its animal records.
Much has changed in the decades since.
Earlier this year, the Princess Royal officially opened Jersey Zoo’s new state-of-the-art Gorilla House – nine times larger than the previous facility, which had been used since 1981.
The new home includes two large indoor spaces and eight interconnected dens, allowing the animals more choice over where they spend their time.
Temperature and humidity can be controlled, while deep bark-chip flooring encourages foraging and climbing structures stretch up to five metres into the air.
There are also dedicated training and weighing areas to allow routine health and welfare work to take place, while research balconies and CCTV allow the troop to be monitored with less disturbance.
Mr Habben said the facility represented another part of Jambo’s legacy.
“Jambo’s legacy continues through our commitment to gorilla care and conservation, including our new state-of-the-art Gorilla House, which opened earlier this year,” he said.
“It gives our gorillas greater choice over how they use their environment, while enabling our team to provide the highest standards of care.”
From Jersey to Central Africa
The zoo’s work with the species now stretches far beyond its Trinity home.
Western lowland gorillas are Critically Endangered, and Durrell runs a Gorilla Guardian programme which trains conservationists from Central Africa to lead gorilla conservation projects in their own countries.
Mr Habben added: “Every visit to Jersey Zoo also helps support Durrell’s work to protect threatened species and restore ecosystems around the world.
“By visiting and connecting with animals such as Badongo, our guests are also helping us protect wildlife and wild places across the globe.”
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