Kishina

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 remaining across their African range. Kishina was born into this critically endangered subspecies at the Yerkes Primate Center in August 1972, the daughter of Paki and Ozoum.

For nearly two decades, she remained at her birthplace before transferring to Busch Gardens Tampa in April 1992. This move marked the beginning of what would become a 31-year residence at the Florida facility.

She lived through more than five decades of conservation efforts for her species. Her long lifespan in managed care reflected the dedication of multiple institutions to western lowland gorilla welfare and breeding programs.

Kishina died at Busch Gardens Tampa in September 2023, having spent the majority of her 51 years contributing to our understanding of her critically endangered subspecies.