Barraca

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. At the Bronx Zoo, one member of this critically endangered subspecies has called the facility home since birth. Barraca entered the world on February 19, 2006, born to mother Imani and father Zuri.

Raised within the zoo’s established gorilla troop, he has spent nearly two decades developing under the care of Wildlife Conservation Society staff. His captive-born status makes him part of a carefully managed population that helps maintain genetic diversity for his subspecies.

Now approaching his twentieth year, Barraca represents the ongoing conservation efforts for Gorilla gorilla gorilla. The IUCN lists his subspecies as Critically Endangered, making every birth in managed care significant for the species’ long-term survival.