Gorillas will be on display at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park for the first time tomorrow.
The three mature adult males, named Fataki, Fuzu and Mahali, have completed quarantine and are now settling into a $6 million enclosure which uses extremely thick 'gorilla-proof' glass.
Orana's chief executive Lynn Anderson says it's the most ambitious project ever undertaken at the zoo with construction of their new home taking 11 months. Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel will officially open the Great Ape Centre at 1pm tomorrow.
"We are committed to playing our part in a bright future for Christchurch and have been planning to hold gorillas for eight years," Ms Anderson says.
"Fataki weighs 190kg and is a very impressive animal. He is starting to develop a silver back and will become even more majestic with age. The two 'little' boys Fuzu and Mahali each weigh around 90kg and are mischievous animals with great characters."
Team leader of gorillas Nichola Creighton says the boys are "awesome" and rewarding to work with.
"We are proud to have joined the international zoo-based breeding programme for these critically endangered animals. Our initial role is supporting the programme by housing bachelors and raising awareness on the plight of gorillas," she says.
The zoo, a charitable trust, had to delay the project due to the impact of the earthquake, which significantly impacted visitation and income.
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