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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Bakari as New Gorilla Troop Leader
Bakari, a 21-year-old western lowland gorilla, is officially stepping into his new role as the dominant silverback leading the family troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team recently shared the exciting update that Bakari has finished his initial acclimation period and can now be spotted by guests strolling along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in the park’s Africa section.
Bakari comes to Walt Disney World from the Saint Louis Zoo, where he resided starting in 2011 after being born at the Brookfield Zoo in 2005. During his time in Saint Louis, Bakari lived in a bachelor troop at the Jungle of the Apes habitat—an environment designed for young and adult males to build necessary social dynamics before stepping up to lead a breeding group of their own.
His move to Florida follows a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP). This vital program ensures genetic diversity and healthy populations of western lowland gorillas, a species currently classified as critically endangered in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
Bakari steps into a prominent role that was previously held for nearly three decades by Gino, the beloved longtime silverback who passed away in September 2025 at the age of 44. As the new silverback leader, Bakari will guide the group’s daily movements, maintain family dynamics, and watch over the rest of the troop from the lush terrain of the trail.
Next time you are trekking through Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to keep your eyes peeled along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail to catch a glimpse of Bakari as he continues settling into his new home!
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