Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

With assistance from the Born Free Foundation and funds from the Neu Foundation, the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon has developed a new enclosure for four of their gorillas.  Staff at the Centre devised a unique and audacious plan to move the gorillas into this enclosure as they were not keen to sedate the gorillas unnecessarily. The individuals to be moved were encouraged to 'escape' from the first enclosure into the second. 

The Centre staff did this by hanging a thick rope over the wall that separates the two living spaces. To ensure that the gorillas could not climb back along it, the rope was tied to a high point in the climbing structure in the new enclosure, the other end left unattached so when if tried to climb back they would simply pull the rope over the wall. 

Although the staff were rather doubtful that the plan would pay off they persevered and Jonathen Kang, the Head Keeper, showed the gorillas how it was done by climbing the rope whilst the gorillas watched from below.  The apes’ curiosity got the better of them - as soon as they were let out they simply had to climb the mystery rope to find out where it went!

Of the 4 gorillas, 3 climbed over the wall leaving only one, Izan, who was too scared, and needed to be sedated before being moved into the new enclosure.  A fifth gorilla, an infant called Bolo, will also be transferred to this enclosure once the current gorillas are settled. 

All in all this exceptional “escape” proved to be a successful and enriching procedure for all involved, and a very ingenious and stress-free way to introduce the animals to their new home!