Dihi

When the first rays hit the sky on 27 April 1984, a tiny gorilla named Dihi entered the world at Apenheul Primate Park. Her parents, Mintha and Bongo, watched her grow as she took her first steps and learned to forage from the lush enclosure.

After seven years, she left her birthplace on 4 June 1991, joining the family at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. The move marked a new chapter, with a larger habitat and a different group of companions.

Two years later, on 2 August 1993, she arrived at Howletts Wild Animal Park, where she has remained ever since. In the quiet mornings, she can be found grooming herself or exploring the shaded trees, a familiar presence to the keepers who have cared for her through the decades.

Today, at 42 years old, Dihi continues to thrive in a secure environment that mirrors her natural habitat. Her life story reflects the resilience of western lowland gorillas, a species that faces critical threats in the wild.