Caretakers at the Lekedi Foundation sanctuary in Gabon are seeking a companion for Jojo, an adult male gorilla who has lived without other gorillas since poachers killed his family when he was a baby. Sanctuary officials hope to find a compatible female or male to help end his lifelong isolation.
Poachers killed Jojo’s family when he was less than a year old, and he was subsequently sold to a private zoo where he spent his childhood confined to a small cage, according to UA.News. In 2015, at the age of 11, he experienced grass for the first time after arriving at the Lekedi Foundation sanctuary in Gabon.
How does isolation affect Jojo?
More than a decade after his transfer, Jojo remains without a gorilla family or peers of his own species. Sanctuary director Eric Viyom said that when women he knows visit the enclosure and leave, Jojo makes vocalizations that adult male gorillas in the wild use to call females, indicating that he feels lonely.
Maxe Anakle Makaba, the head caretaker at the sanctuary, said that the animal actively seeks human interaction, including by gathering leaves to trade for treats, as reported by UA.News.
University of Sussex professor Gillian Forrester, who studies the psychology of great apes, described Jojo’s case as one of the most severe instances of isolation she has observed. Using a thermal imaging camera, Forrester recorded that the gorilla maintains a persistently cold nose, a sign that may reflect an impaired bodily response to stress.
Why is finding a companion difficult?
Caretakers are exploring the placement of another rescued animal or a zoo-born gorilla with Jojo. However, moving an animal from an accredited zoo involves complex administrative hurdles. Such a transfer requires approval from an international committee that evaluates genetics, individual health status, and behavioral compatibility.
Forrester has reached out to multiple accredited zoos to investigate potential transfers, but those conversations have stalled. BBC News reported that Forrester stated “there aren’t clear processes in place to do these kinds of trans-locations.”
Some experts warn that attempting to introduce a companion could subject Jojo to added stress since he has already reached adulthood. Any future introduction would proceed gradually, potentially starting with objects carrying the scent of another gorilla before visual contact.
Can Jojo return to the wild?
Establishing social bonds is considered a necessary prerequisite for any future release into the wild. Dr Katie Fawcett from the Grace Center explained that forming social relationships is “essential” for an animal to be evaluated for release, which remains the ultimate goal for Jojo’s caretakers.
In gorilla society, forming friendships is fundamental. Dr Robin Morrison from the University of Zurich, who studies mountain gorilla social structures, said that a major component of normal gorilla life involves “just sitting together quietly sharing space.”
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