Gabon's lonely gorilla Jojo may get a companion after a life in isolation
Jojo, a gorilla at a sanctuary in Gabon, has spent almost his whole life alone, and his carers are looking for a companion. Experts disagree on whether this is still possible or wise for a mature male.
At the Lekedi Foundation sanctuary in Gabon, central Africa, a male gorilla named Jojo has spent nearly his entire life without the company of other gorillas. His carers want to find him a companion, possibly another rescued or zoo-bred gorilla, but doing so is not straightforward. His case shows how hard it is to help animals taken from their families as infants through illegal trade.
Jojo was taken from the wild when he was less than a year old, and poachers killed his family. He then lived for years in a tiny cage at a private zoo in Gabon, on public display. He first stepped onto grass in 2015, aged about 11. He is now probably in his 20s and lives in the sanctuary, still alone.
Signs of loneliness
Éric Willaume, who runs the sanctuary, says Jojo makes calls that wild silverback males use to summon females when women he knows leave his enclosure. Head keeper Maxe Anaclet Makaba says the gorilla craves human contact and even gathers leaves to trade for treats.
Prof Gillian Forrester of the University of Sussex, who studies Jojo, used a thermal camera and found a persistently cold nose. She says this indicates a malfunctioning stress response and chronic stress. In her view, a companion would help him heal.
Obstacles and doubts
International rules for moving captive gorillas are designed for breeding programmes, not for finding companions. Forrester's talks with accredited zoos have stalled. Moving an animal would be decided by an international committee based on genetics, health and compatibility.
Tony King of the UK charity the Aspinall Foundation thinks it may be too late for a mature male to bond, and a newcomer could add stress. Dr Robin Morrison of the University of Zurich notes that about a third of adult males in the wild are solitary, but believes Jojo is probably both traumatised and lonely.
