Go Bananas

SAMSON

WEIGHT: 390 pounds

SILVERBACK GORILLA GORILLIS MAXIMUS

up the fight.

Alpha male, Samson isn’t ready to give

Virgil seems to be the early leader in the race for

face, 14-year-old Samson is easy to spot. Though

With a prominent scar on the left side of his

BIRTHPLACE: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

SAMSON

A special gorilla-sized blood pressure cuff that allows zookeepers to share health data with researchers working to improve gorilla longevity.

ALICE

and slapping him on the head.

get the silverback’s attention by throwing things

schoolgirl crush on Schroeder. Watch her try to

Nine-year-old Alice often behaves like she has a

BIRTHPLACE: MIAMI, FLORIDA

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA

WEIGHT: 205 pounds

ALICE

Como Zoo has a breeding recommendation for Alice and Schroeder, who are considered genetically valuable to conservation efforts for gorillas.

VIRGIL

with zookeepers.

bachelors, 14-year-old Virgil also likes to interact

he throws his weight around. The largest of the

The other gorillas give Virgil a wide berth when

BIRTHPLACE: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

SILVERBACK GORILLA GORILLIS MAXIMUS

WEIGHT: 450 pounds

VIRGIL

Gorilla Forest was designed with plenty of interior skylights to make sure gorillas get all the vitamin D they need for good health and strong bones.

SHROEDER

WEIGHT: 525

SILVERBACK GORILLA GORILLIS MAXIMUS

in Gorilla Forest.

three new female companions

wild when he was introduced to his

had no problem remembering the call of the

he’s lived with other males most of his life, he

dominate, but a laid-back demeanor. Though

Schroeder is a gentle giant who has the size to

A Como Zoo resident since 1991, silverback

BIRTHPLACE: XXXXXXX

SHROEDER

Gorilla Forest is the largest mesh-enclosed gorilla exhibit ever built. The open-air design will make it possible to welcome birds and smaller monkey species in the future.

NNE

Nne can live nearly 50 years in zoos.

on visitors. Now 25 years old, female gorillas like

gregarious great ape, Nne likes to keep her eye

them how to handle silverback Schroeder. A

as the role model for Dara and Alice, showing

Long and lean with a touch of gray, Nne serves

BIRTHPLACE: CINCINNATI, OHIO

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA

WEIGHT: 175 pounds

NNE

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory welcomes more than two million visitors every year—the largest audience for any cultural institution in MN.

JABIR

then backs out of the fray.

instigate fights with the other two bachelors,

intense eyes, and type A behavior, he tends to

with his current role as third banana. With his

The half-brother of Virgil, Jabir is comfortable

BIRTHPLACE: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

SILVERBACK GORILLA GORILLIS MAXIMUS

WEIGHT: 380 pounds

JABIR

Though western lowland gorillas are equipped for cold weather, Gorilla Forest includes heated exteriors that will give the apes an extended outdoor season.

DARA

WEIGHT: 168 pounds

DARA

At Gorilla Forest, gorillas can hang out in a special, soil-covered “day room” when they don’t feel like being outdoors.

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA BIRTHPLACE: TOLEDO, OHIO

The youngest female in the family, 8-year-old

Dara was the daughter of a dominant

female—training that could help her maternal

skills when she has a baby of her own. Known

for her “princess” personality, she’s also a to avoid conflict.

peacemaker who prefers

ZOOKEEPERS

HEIGHT: 6’4”

SILVERBACK GORILLA GORILLIS MAXIMUS

BIRTHPLACE: UGANDA

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WEIGHT: 455

ZOOKEEPERS

SAMSONc’S FAVORITE FOOD IS RED, SEEDLESS GRAPES.