Aloha! Meet the Two New Chimps from Honolulu Zoo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Aloha!

 Meet the Two New Chimps from Honolulu Zoo 

Brownsville, Texas (December 19, 2024) – The Gladys Porter Zoo has welcomed two new members to their chimpanzee troop. The newcomers are a mother and son pair—45-year-old Kumi and her son 34-year-old Kibale. Staff are inviting the public to visit the Zoo and give them a warm South Texas welcome.

Kumi and Kibale arrived from Honolulu Zoo in September. After completing the mandatory quarantine period, primate keepers began working on introducing the pair to the resident chimps at the Zoo.

Before their arrival, the Zoo’s troop consisted of four geriatric individuals. The oldest is Rusty, a 52-year-old female and matriarch of the group. The other troop members include Camille, JK and the male of the group, Sancho, all in their 40s.

“We are happy to report that Kumi and Kibale have been adjusting well to their new home and roommates,” states Walter DuPree, Curator of Mammals at the Gladys Porter Zoo. “They’re learning where they fit in with their new group. Watching their relationships develop has been rewarding and fascinating. The team that works with the chimps were careful to monitor positive signs between our original group and the two new animals. This couldn’t have been accomplished without their knowledge and care. We are thrilled to see the two new chimps being adopted by the others. It is a good day.”

Chimpanzees are listed as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The biggest threats they face in the wild are poaching, habitat loss and disease.