Kamina and Zhara, two of the Columbus Zoo’s gorillas, will be leaving central Ohio before the end of this summer.
The western lowland gorilla pair will be moved to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, according to an Instagram post from the Brookfield Zoo. The move is part of a larger plan that supports the long term health of the species.
“We’re just encouraging people to come out and see them, really as soon as possible,” Audra Meinelt, curator of the Congo Expedition at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Congo Expedition houses the western lowland gorillas.
She hopes people will maximize the opportunity to visit the gorillas and wish them well on their journey to Chicago soon.
The two gorillas have reached what is considered to be immigration age, so to follow natural gorilla behavior, the two will be moved to join a different group of gorillas, according to Meinelt.
The Columbus Zoo will not currently be bringing in any more gorillas to fill the space left by Kamina and Zhara, but residents will still be able to visit the gorillas that will remain at the zoo.
Two female gorillas from the Brookfield Zoo will also be moving to a different home, upon recommendation from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
“Kamina and Zhara will soon be embarking on a new adventure at Brookfield Zoo! We will miss them so much in Columbus, but we know they’re in great hands in Brookfield,” the Columbus Zoo wrote on their Instagram story in response to a post announcing the moves.
This story was updated with additional information.
Dispatch reporter Ella Diehl can be reached at ediehl@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two Columbus Zoo gorillas headed to new home in the Windy City
Reporting by Ella Diehl, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Ella Diehl, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
