Hope Kesho to charm the ladies

HE’S not exactly tall, dark and handsome, but zookeepers are hoping a new gorilla being introduced at London Zoo will be a hit with the ladies.

Kesho, is being moved from Dublin Zoo to join females, Zaire, Effie and Mjukuu, who is pregnant.

David Field, zoological director of ZSL London Zoo, said: “The introduction of a new male into this environment is very precarious.

“It carries significant risk for the death of the infant when it’s born later this year.

“But we believe we are making the right decisions based on the expert opinions we have received.”

The zookeepers are making use of a small window of time to introduce the new gorilla.

He will arrive before the end of August, giving him two months to settle in before Mjukuu gives birth.

The 11-year-old “black back” — about 18 in human years — was chosen to be young enough to mix in easily with the group but mature enough to provide leadership.

Mr Field said: “He’s just young enough to integrate with the group in a juvenile sense, but he’s mature enough to start to provide some control and some dominance — it’s a difficult balance.

“He’s looking to find his niche and beginning to show an interest in females and everything that goes with them.”

If he was introduced any time up to four years after the birth it is likely he would kill the baby.

London Zoo was given the go ahead by experts at the Gorilla European Endangered Species Programme committee.

They carried out a gorilla husbandry “audit” after the deaths of the two previous males, Bongo in December 2008, and Yeboah in March this year.

In his report, Jan Vermeer wrote: “It is clear the group is in need of a new leader who will improve the cohesion between the animals.

“Such a new male will hopefully also sire offspring, which is not only good for the captive population but especially for the wellbeing of the females.

“There is no better enrichment of their life than caring for a baby or experiencing the growing up of other females’ offspring,” he said.