Soundi, aged 10, and Boula, aged 19, two female western lowland gorillas, arrived safely at Pairi Daiza from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, 25 August. Their arrival marks the first step in the formation of a new group of four gorillas at the park, created as part of the Ex situ Programme (EEP), coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

A male and a third female are expected to join Soundi and Boula in the coming months. The group has been carefully selected in accordance with EEP recommendations, with the long-term aim of encouraging breeding and contributing to the conservation of this Critically Endangered subspecies.

The formation of the group was first announced by Pairi Daiza in May. With the arrival of its first two members, the project has now entered a new phase.

A refurbished volcano ready for its new residents

To prepare for the new group, one of the two iconic volcanoes in The Land of Origins, Pairi Daiza’s world dedicated to the beauty and wildlife of Africa, has undergone an extensive refurbishment.

Almost every aspect of the indoor and outdoor habitats has been renewed to create a suitable environment for the incoming gorillas. Improvements include a new indoor substrate, a new misting system, additional planting beneath the glass roofs, as well as new walkways and elevated structures.

The refurbishment has also introduced a range of enrichment features designed to encourage natural behaviours. On the outdoor island, for example, a termite mound can be used to hide food, encouraging the gorillas to search, manipulate objects and explore their surroundings.

The camera system has been completely upgraded as well. This will allow the zoological teams to monitor the gorillas closely as they become accustomed to their new environment, while also helping staff observe their welfare, behaviour and developing social interactions.

The project was a collaborative effort involving several teams across Pairi Daiza, including the zoological, technical, horticultural and IT departments.

Throughout the refurbishment, two male gorillas, Tebogo and Indigo, continued to live peacefully in their own territory in the park’s second volcano, which had already been refurbished.

Soundi and Boula will initially be given time to settle into their new surroundings. They will gradually be introduced to one another, while their caretakers take the time to get to know them and allow the gorillas to become familiar with their new care team at their own pace.

During these first days, Pairi Daiza’s team will continue exchanging information with the UK caretakers who accompanied the gorillas during their journey. The keepers will remain at Pairi Daiza temporarily to help support the animals through the transition.

As part of this settling-in period, Soundi and Boula will not immediately be visible to visitors. Before gaining access to the entirety of their refurbished habitat, both gorillas must first complete the required quarantine period inside the volcano.

Soundi was born on 25 April 2016 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent. Her transfer to Pairi Daiza represents the first move to another zoological institution in her life.

Her former UK caretakers describe her as sociable, confident and particularly agile. She is an excellent climber, moves quickly and enjoys enrichment activities that encourage her to investigate and interact with her environment.

Despite her confident character, Soundi also has a more cautious side. When confronted with an unfamiliar situation or a change in her surroundings, she may take time to observe what is happening before getting involved. In these situations, she can seek reassurance from those around her before feeling comfortable enough to engage.

Boula was born on 9 April 2007 at Howletts Wild Animal Park. In 2013, she moved to Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, also in Kent, where her keepers came to know her as a particularly playful and expressive gorilla.

Her personality is especially evident around feeding time. When excited, Boula may hold onto the mesh, shake her head and open her mouth. When her enthusiasm reaches its peak, she has even been known to lift her entire body off the ground while gripping the mesh with both her hands and feet.

Fresh browse is one of Boula’s favourite treats during the day. Her former caretakers also know her for the exceptionally loud and lengthy rumbles she can produce when fresh browse is being distributed.

These individual characteristics will be important as the Pairi Daiza team gets to know both gorillas and supports them through the next stages of their transition.

Once Soundi and Boula have completed their quarantine period, a male and a third female are expected to join them. The final composition of the group has been determined according to recommendations made through the EEP, which coordinates the management of gorilla populations across participating European institutions.

The objective is to create the right social and genetic conditions to encourage breeding. In the longer term, the group could contribute to new gorilla births at Pairi Daiza while supporting the conservation of a genetically and demographically viable European population.

Yiling Wang, Acting Head of Primates at Pairi Daiza, said the arrival of Soundi and Boula represents an important milestone.

“The arrival of these two females is an important first step in forming this new group. Our priority is to give each gorilla the time and conditions needed to settle in and build strong social relationships. In the coming months, we look forward to welcoming the other members of the group and seeing these bonds develop. In the longer term, we hope this group will also contribute to the conservation of the species through the EEP.”

The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the wild, the subspecies faces multiple threats, including habitat degradation, poaching and disease.

Its naturally slow reproductive rate makes the population particularly vulnerable. Female gorillas generally give birth to a single infant, with several years typically separating successive births. As a result, population recovery can be a lengthy process even when conservation conditions improve.

This is where international cooperation through the EEP plays an important role. By coordinating transfers between EAZA member institutions and carefully managing the composition of social groups, the programme seeks to support the long-term survival of a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically sustainable European population.

With Soundi and Boula now safely at Pairi Daiza, the foundations of this new group are in place. Their arrival is the beginning of a gradual process focused first on their welfare and successful integration, and ultimately on supporting the conservation of western lowland gorillas for the future.

Visit the official website for more information about Pairi Daiza.