GORILLA FATHER TEACHES AND PROTECTS HIS SONS

[@wildthunderbird]

I don't know this family well, but dad looks like a good father. The silverbacks have a very important job keeping everyone in line and happy, protecting everyone and finding time to play. Tbe boys are sweethearts and well behaved around dad. Thank you for the video, I enjoy watching the gorillas! ❤️🦍😊❤️🦍😊🦍❤️

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! It was very enlightening for me to watch this dad with his boys. So often I've watched mothers with their young, while fathers have been in the background. Both mothers of the boys were adopted by the Hogle Zoo to join their gorilla troop in Salt Lake City in 2022. The mothers of the boys are also mother and daughter. This transfer was done as an effort to "maintain a self-sustaining, genetically diverse gorilla population for future generations." I hope they're doing well. I also learned only a week after seeing Bolingo, Enzi, and Oliver that they all would soon be relocating too - they will be living at the Jacksonville Zoo. Lots of traveling for this family - I hope they all will live well.

[@wildthunderbird]

@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography that sounds like a big move for them. I hope they adjust to their new home with ease. It's amazing how sweet and gentle the big dads are to their children! Oh, I just realized you probably won't be able to video them after they move. That's sad. Take care. 🦍❤️😊🦍❤️😊🦍❤️😊

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

It'll be interesting to watch their progress online, but I'll also plan a trip there to see for myself. Love this father and his sons! Stay tuned!😁 @@wildthunderbird

[@wildthunderbird]

That would be great! Yes,thank you I will stay tuned😊​@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography

[@frankrounding9905]

Quite the family,,,except,,I wonder where the mother is? Maybe they separate them.

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

They sure are quite the family, Frank! I loved watching a dad's involvement with raising young for a change.😁Oliver's mom, Mary, and Enzi's mom, Pele, were adopted by Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City in 2022 as part of an agreement to support a self-sustaining, genetically diverse gorilla population for future generations by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Mary (36 yrs old) is mother to Pele (22 yrs old) and remain together to this day. Hopefully, we will continue to see critically endangered western lowland gorillas for many generations to come with this and other carefully thought through conservation efforts.

[@frankrounding9905]

That's great. Thank you for passing on that information.

[@MichelleSiefkenPhotography]

Sure thing, Frank! Thanks for always taking an interest!