A new leader is preparing to take charge of the gorilla family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with 21-year-old Bakari, a 400-pound western lowland gorilla, gradually settling into his new home and getting acquainted with the females of the troop.
Bakari arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in July and has since been undergoing a carefully managed introduction process at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. His arrival marks a new phase for the family group following the death of Gino, the troop’s longtime silverback, in September 2025. Gino had led the group for almost three decades.
As a silverback, Bakari is an adult male gorilla with the characteristic silver-coloured hair that develops on the backs of mature males. The term describes the animal’s physical appearance and social role rather than a separate species or subspecies. Bakari belongs to the western lowland gorilla species, which is classified as critically endangered.
Disney’s animal-care team has been taking a gradual approach to introducing Bakari to the female members of his new family. Rather than putting the animals together immediately, caretakers have allowed them to become familiar with one another through protected mesh barriers. The process gives the gorillas an opportunity to see, hear and smell each other while the team observes their reactions.
The introduction is being described as a “howdy” phase, during which the animals remain separated but can interact through the barrier. Disney staff have said the females have shown considerable interest in Bakari, frequently approaching the mesh and spending time watching him. The animals have also begun displaying behaviours that suggest they are becoming increasingly comfortable with one another, including eating and resting near the barriers.
Bakari’s personality has also attracted attention from his keepers. According to Disney, the young silverback has displayed a calm and relaxed temperament while observing his surroundings. One of his characteristic behaviours is stretching out and lounging with his chin resting on his hand as he watches activity around him.
His new position carries responsibilities beyond simply becoming the largest male in the group. In a gorilla family, the dominant silverback plays an important role in maintaining the stability and cohesion of the troop. Bakari will therefore be expected to establish relationships with the females and help shape the social structure of the group. Disney also hopes he will eventually father offspring, contributing to the future of the species in managed care.
Before moving ahead with his integration into the troop, Bakari recently underwent a detailed health examination. Because of his size and strength, the veterinary procedure required him to be placed under anaesthesia. Animal-health staff said he had been trained to accept a hand injection, which helped make the process easier. He subsequently received a clean bill of health.
The veterinary examination was also visible to guests through a viewing window, allowing visitors to see part of the animal-care process and learn more about the work involved in caring for large endangered animals.
Disney’s animal-care team is continuing to monitor Bakari and the female gorillas before removing the barriers separating them. The process is deliberately being carried out in stages, with staff assessing the animals’ behaviour and comfort levels at every step. Recent reports indicate that the group is moving closer to full integration, although the timing depends on how the gorillas respond to one another.
Bakari’s arrival is also connected to wider conservation efforts. Disney has said its animal-care programme works alongside conservation organisations involved in protecting gorillas in the wild. In September, the Disney Conservation Fund announced $100,000 in new grants for three organisations — the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Centre, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Gorilla Doctors — to support gorilla conservation, veterinary care, scientific research and community-based protection efforts in Africa.
With Bakari now preparing to assume his place at the centre of Disney’s gorilla family, visitors to Animal Kingdom will have an opportunity to watch the development of a new social group while learning about the conservation challenges facing western lowland gorillas. His gradual transition from a bachelor group at another accredited zoo to the leadership of a family troop is being closely observed by Disney’s animal-care specialists as the new silverback settles into his role.
