Bauwi

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. Bauwi was part of the managed breeding programs that work to maintain genetic diversity in captive populations. His parents, Mouila and Kibabu, produced him at Apenheul Primate Park in the summer of 1989.

The young gorilla spent his first six years at Apenheul before moving to Burgers’ Zoo in 1995. There he would remain for the next 28 years, becoming one of the zoo’s longest-term residents. His subspecies carries the scientific name Gorilla gorilla gorilla and holds Critically Endangered status under IUCN classifications.

Bauwi lived through more than three decades of conservation efforts for his species. He died at Burgers’ Zoo in May 2023, having spent nearly his entire adult life there. His long lifespan in managed care reflects the dedication of keepers who work daily with these critically threatened great apes.