Printable version Email this to a friend

Bobby’s new brown eyed girl

Friday 23 May 2008

© ZSL - DS

Mjukuu, or ‘Jookie’ as she’s nicknamed, is now a permanent resident of Gorilla Kingdom and she’s proving quite a hit with male silverback Bobby.

After only six weeks together, the pair have become inseparable - so much so that the pair took to consummating their blossoming relationship a staggering 17 times in the last four days.

The newcoming is said to be quite the show off and flirt; not only does she enjoy stealing Bobby’s food but she is often seen walking around with sacks on her head.

Iona Stewart, a Zookeeper at Gorilla Kingdom, added: ‘It's a historic moment because this is the beginning of what will be a big group of gorillas which will be used for breeding. We knew we needed a socially adept gorilla to bring the group together and we chose Jookie specially because she is so confident. We are so excited by how well it's worked.

View a photo gallery of the gorillas

‘Jookie had only been here two weeks when she came into season and we could tell that Bobby had fallen for her. There was a lot of direct eye contact, which is quite a come-on in gorilla terms. They did a lot of playing and sitting next to each other just touching. Then it got a bit like a cheesy soap opera.’

© ZSL - DSJookie, nine, joins the 25-year-old male gorilla and two other females, Effie and Zaire, from a group of eleven gorillas at another zoo, and it looks like her social skills are paying off.

Despite being ‘love rivals’ for Bobby’s affections, the three females are getting on famously and visitors can see all four gorillas enjoying each others’ company on the island.

Fellow gorilla keeper Dan Simmonds, said: ‘Jookie has this butter wouldn’t melt look to her and she gets away with murder where Bobby is concerned - he’s taken quite a shine to her. The other two females also get along with her very well - she seems to have them all wrapped around her little finger.’

See the video story below