Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has officially announced their newest resident – a month old, western lowland gorilla named Oliver.
- Oliver, a western lowland gorilla, was born Aug. 18
- 7 western lowland gorilla now call Busch Gardens home
- His species is considered 'critically endangered' by the IUCN
Oliver is a member of a critically endangered species, a Busch Gardens spokesperson said. Right now, Oliver's sticking close to his mom, Mary, 28. His father, Bolingo, is a bit younger. He was born at Busch Gardens in 2005.
Mary and Oliver will reside at the Myombe Reserve habitat -- bringing the total number of western lowland gorillas that now call the park home to seven.
Experts say western lowland gorillas inhabit the tropical forests of West Africa, specifically Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, their sharp decline is due to poaching and disease-induced habitat destruction.
Since 2004, the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has supported the study of western lowland gorillas around the world, including the remote region of the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in Africa's northern Congo.
Officials said Oliver’s birth was part of Busch Gardens’ participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.