Guidebook, 1981

I think these two Gorillas would be female 'Zaire' and her half brother 'Tatu' (the smaller one).

The animal on the right certainly looks like Zaire. Even by gorilla standards, she has always had a rather mournful expression. Possibly not without reason! It occurs to me that she is now within striking distance of breaking Guy's ZSL record for the longest time spent by a gorilla within its collections. He lived at London 1947-1978; she arrived there in 1984.

I think from the dates it must be those two. Tatu ended up 'behind bars' in a regulation cage for many years at Oklahoma in the USA.

Zaire hasn't had much of a life really after the initial breeding in the 1980's. I often think she might have been better off moving to Bristol with silverback 'Jock' when he was sent there, as these two were obviously compatable and I think she might have bred again with him, given a bit more time. But no, they had to keep her.