Carers seek companion for isolated gorilla Jojo in Gabon sanctuary
The Lekedi Foundation aims to find a fellow gorilla to help the rescued ape recover from lifelong isolation.
Carers at the Lekedi Foundation in Gabon are looking for a companion for Jojo, a male gorilla who has lived most of his life alone. According to BBC News, the ape was taken from the wild as an infant and spent years in a cage at a private zoo in Gabon after his family was killed by poachers.
Jojo is currently settled at a sanctuary, but he has not had any gorilla friends or a family since his capture. Prof Gillian Forrester from the University of Sussex, who is studying Jojo's psychology, described him as perhaps the most extreme case of isolation she has seen in a great ape.
Maxe Anaclet Makaba, the head keeper at Lekedi, said Jojo craves human interaction and will gather leaves to trade for treats. Éric Willaume, who runs the sanctuary, noted that Jojo makes sounds used by silverback males to summon females when known women leave his enclosure.
Forrester noted that Jojo shows signs of chronic stress, including a 'nasal dip' where his nose remains cold, indicating a malfunctioning stress response. Dr Katie Fawcett from the Grace Center said forming social relationships is essential for an animal to be considered for release into the wild.
The search for a companion could involve a rescued or zoo-bred gorilla. Any introduction would be done carefully, and moving an animal from an accredited zoo would require a decision by an international committee based on genetics, health, and compatibility.