Efata

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. Efata was born into this critically endangered subspecies at Zoologisch-botanischer Garten Wilhelma in April 1982, the son of Undi and Banjo.

His early years unfolded within the Stuttgart facility, where he spent over thirteen years developing from infant to adult male. The structured environment of managed care provided stability during his formative period.

In October 1995, he transferred to Kolmården Djurpark in Sweden. This move marked the beginning of nearly two decades at the Scandinavian facility. He adapted to his new surroundings and became part of the established gorilla community there.

Efata lived at Kolmården until his death in November 2014 at the age of 32. His three-decade lifespan bridged significant changes in gorilla conservation efforts across European zoos.