Shufai

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. Every birth in managed care matters for this critically endangered subspecies. Shufai entered the world at Twycross Zoo in September 2016, the offspring of Ozala and Oumbie.

Raised by his mother within the established troop structure, he has grown from infant to juvenile over his eight years of life. The transition from dependent young gorilla to independent member of the group happens gradually, with keepers monitoring each developmental milestone.

As a captive-born male of the subspecies Gorilla gorilla gorilla, he represents hope for his species’ future. Twycross Zoo has been his only home, where he continues to mature alongside his family group.