Primate real estate

Gorillas given helping hand as family expands

Gorillas at Bristol Zoo, like many other home-owners in the property market, are hoping to trade-up because their family is growing.

Silverback and head of the family, Jock, were delighted when their new baby boy Kukeña arrived in September 2011, but now they and the zoo’s other youngsters Namoki, Komale and Kera are keen to get their own space. Their current home can now be seen on Rightmove and includes full property details including some quite rare features:

* All bedrooms en-suite

* Unusual neighbours including penguins and hippos

* Free food and cleaning service provided

* Large outdoor space including climbing frame, stream, moat and rope swings

“We’ve had a range of interesting properties listed over the years but this one must be king of jungle when it comes to the strangest," said Rightmove director Miles Shipside.

Bristol Zoo is soon to begin work upgrading the gorillas’ accommodation and the listing is part of their fundraising campaign to raise funds towards the gorillas’ new home.

John Partridge, Senior Curator of Animals at Bristol Zoo, explained: “ The refurbished gorilla house will offer an exciting, bigger space for the gorillas and will give our keepers and veterinary staff much greater flexibility in their day-to-day management and care of the group. This will, in turn, further improve the level of care and welfare we give our gorillas and will allow us to house a greater number of them in future.

“We want the indoor accommodation to be the best it possibly can be, so we are expanding the indoor gorilla enclosure, taking over the whole Grade II listed building which, until recently, also housed the zoo’s okapis.”

To donate to Bristol Zoo’s gorilla house project go to www.bristolzoo.org.uk/gorilla-house