Damisi

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. Damisi represents hope for his critically endangered subspecies through managed breeding programs that span multiple European institutions. Rebecca and Matze welcomed him at Frankfurt Zoo on a spring day in 1997, marking the beginning of a life that would bridge three different conservation facilities.

His early years unfolded in Frankfurt’s gorilla habitat before a move to Paignton Zoo in Devon brought new surroundings and social dynamics. The transition from Germany to England happened when he was six years old, an age when young gorillas are still learning complex social behaviors from their troop.

Another chapter began in 2008 with his arrival at Chessington World of Adventure & Zoo, where he has spent the majority of his adult life. Over fifteen years have passed since that transfer, making Chessington his longest-term home. As a western lowland gorilla classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, his presence contributes to conservation efforts for one of our closest living relatives.