Bobo

Wild-caught gorillas like Bobo represent some of the most vulnerable members of their species. Born in Africa on June 3, 1994, he was taken from his natural habitat during the tumultuous period when western lowland gorilla populations faced severe pressure from hunting and habitat destruction.

His path through captivity began early, with his first recorded transfer in 1996 to an unknown location. The fragmented record of his early years reflects the complex network of facilities that housed confiscated or rescued gorillas during the 1990s. Eventually, he found his way to Mefou Primate Sanctuary, where he has remained.

Now approaching his fourth decade, Bobo belongs to a subspecies classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. His wild origins connect him directly to the forests of Central and West Africa, where his species continues to face threats from deforestation, disease, and human encroachment. At Mefou, he lives among other primates who share similar stories of displacement and rescue.