Okanda, Tano, and Nafi Take Center Stage - Meet The Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn Gorillas

I'm so excited to introduce the new Gorilla troop temporary series from the "Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn" showing you this gorilla family every Thursday until further notice. Why is this so special you wonder. Have a look at the first gorilla, bronze hair on his head and back, legs crossed, facial expression and that walk. No, it's not gorilla Lope, but his older brother Okanda. Don't they just look alike? I was just amazed when seeing him. He's Lope, just bigger. Okanda was born on April 17th 2011. Okanda and Lope have the same parents Mother Ozala and Silverback Oumbie. I saw some photos of Okanda when he was little and he actually looked more like Shufai the youngest brother.
Okanda was very ill at an early age and some tests had to be done. Ozala was very protective of her son and she had to be sedated so the staff was able to give him a proper examination. Okanda was put back with his family after the tests, but unfortunately, Ozala's milk didn't have the nutrition that Okanda needed to get healthy again. That's when staff had to intervene. Sarah Chapman, the zoo’s expert vet took on his full-time care in her own home. Thanks to Sahra's round-the-clock care he got better after and he got moved back into accommodation at the Twycross Zoo where John Buchan, head of primates, took over. Twycross Zoo tried everything to reintroduce Okanda again, but unfortunately was rejected by his family. They found a new home for him and he got moved to the Zoologisch-botanischer Garten Wilhelma in Germany on 17 January 2012. This is where Okanda met Tano. Tano was also rejected by his family in Prague. On 07 April 2015, both gorillas Okanda and Tano (November 8th 2011) were moved to the Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn where they joined Gorilla Bagira ( June 6th 1986), Sonja ( December 8th 1989), Neema (July 1st 1987) and gorilla baby Nafi (February 8th 2013).
Gorilla Bagira who was the female silverback got moved on to the Zoologischer Garten Saarbrücken on 24 January 2018. To give either Okanda or Tano a chance of becoming a silverback.
To the video:
The first clip, that bronze crown, many of us are familiar with it from our lovable gorilla Lope. A quick look at Okanda's face. The feet are crossed just like Lope does. Sitting there like that just gives you goosebumps on how similar they look. Look at that face. Okanda has a little charge towards the window. Looking at Tano and Okanda, neither are silverbacks yet (November 2021). Lots of food for the gorilla troop and Okanda seems to favour the carrots. That little leg flips we know so well and then the highlight of the upright walk. Second, up is the oldest gorilla of the troop called Neema. She is a force to be reckoned with. In the few days I was able to observe and film, I've seen her charging more times than I can count. 3rd up is Tano jumping at the window. Tano's dad is Richard from Prague Zoo. There are a couple of videos of Richard in the Gorilla Prague playlist.    • Prague Zoo  
A worried mother, pulling her child away seen in the reflection. Tano seemed to love looking at the people. 4th clip is of Gorilla Sonja eating the bark of a stick. She seems to have the same problem as Kera at the Bristol Zoo. It looks like she pulled nearly all her hair. She also seems quite timid like Gorilla Asante. Next up Gorilla Nafi standing on the tree trunk. She is the only one in the troop that has been raised by her parents. She's got the same upright walk as Okanda. She's trying to see through the glass as the keepers get ready to feed them. Okanda and Nafi were very playful the time I was there and she seemed very smitten by Okanda. Not sure Okanda is quite that keen :-). Nafi is still on the tree and Okanda swinging by trying to grab her. Okanda balances on the ropes to the other side. The last clip is of Nafi trying to grab Okanda. You'll see a lot more of these two and the rest of the gorilla troop. More next Thursday. Hopefully, you enjoyed the introduction.
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