Dear Friend,
This week we honor Ndume on his 44th birthday. Ndume was an essential part of The Gorilla Foundation family for nearly three decades, sharing his life with Koko and Michael and showing us how deeply gorillas can think, feel and connect.
When we visited the Cincinnati Zoo in August, we werenโt able to see Ndume in either the indoor or outdoor habitats. We arrived unannounced, since the zoo had informed us after last yearโs birthday post that future visits would need to be as a regular zoo guest, without special access.
Over two full days, we saw the other two gorilla groups rotated between the habitats, but Ndumeโs group never appeared in either space. When we followed up afterward, his care team told us Ndume likely had access to those areas after hours and that he is doing well.
Even so, we remain concerned about how much access he truly has to natural light, open space, and choice. Gorillas are intelligent and emotionally complex beings, and their well-being depends on far more than food and shelter. It depends on their ability to move freely, explore, and experience the world around them.
As we celebrate Ndumeโs birthday, we also renew our commitment to advocating for better living conditions and expanded sanctuary options for all gorillas in human care. Ndumeโs life continues to remind us of our important mission at the Gorilla Foundation: to give gorillas the voice and the freedom they deserve.
Happy Birthday Ndume!
We love you and miss you, and will continue to work for your species to live with more peace and choice.
With gratitude,
Dr. Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / Koko.org
PS: If you happen to visit the Cincinnati Zoo, look for Ndume and say hello to him for us. Also, please let us know what you think of his current mental and physical condition, by emailing us at [email protected].
Conservation through Communication
The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Federal Tax ID is: 942-38-6151
for unique gorilla-centric gifts.
