Gorilla SSP

An announcement you have all been waiting for! Barika’s baby is a boy, and his name is Nkuba. 🦍🎉

Pronounced n-KOO-buh, his name was chosen by his care team to honor the Nkuba Conservation Area, a community-managed reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo established and managed by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

This protected area helps safeguard critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas while supporting local community members who work as trackers and conservationists. While Nkuba is a western lowland gorilla, his name connects his story here at the Zoo to the larger work being done to protect gorillas in the wild.

The name Nkuba can also be associated with “rain” or “lightning” in Central African languages, and as a surname, it is often connected to strength, power, and leadership.

A strong name for a very special little one. Welcome, Nkuba. 🧡