Tam Tam

Western lowland gorillas face extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100,000 left across their African range. Tam Tam represents one of the captive-born males helping to maintain genetic diversity in European breeding programs. Born at Howletts Wild Animal Park to parents Juju and Bitam, he spent his first decade learning essential social behaviors within his natal group.

At ten years old, he made the move to France, where Espace Zoologique St. Martin La Plaine became his permanent home. The transfer occurred during a critical period in his development, as young male gorillas typically begin asserting independence around this age. Three decades have passed since his arrival in France, making him one of the zoo’s most established residents.

As a member of the subspecies Gorilla gorilla gorilla, he belongs to a population classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. His longevity in managed care — now over 40 years — reflects both advances in gorilla husbandry and the importance of maintaining stable social groups for these intelligent primates.