Matumaini

A thunderous chest beat echoed through Lincoln Park Zoo on a June morning in 1993, marking the birth of a future silverback. He entered the world on 11 June 1993, the son of Hope and Gino, and spent his first year under the watchful eyes of his mother at the same zoo.

In May 1994, he was moved to Oklahoma City Zoo, where a decade of growth and social learning unfolded. The transition on 12 May 1994 introduced him to a new troop, and he remained there until the summer of 2004.

June 2004 brought another change; on the 2nd, he arrived at Sedgwick County Zoo, where he has lived ever since. Now 33 years old, he represents the critically endangered western lowland gorilla, a subspecies facing severe threats in the wild.

His lineage traces back to captive‑born parents, and his presence enriches the conservation narrative at Sedgwick County. Keepers monitor his health and behavior closely, ensuring he continues to thrive within the managed population.