Bantu is usually at the back of the large exhibit with has plenty of vegetation. There is a picture of it on the chapultepec gallery. This was the only time i have seen him this close and i was able to take his picture. And i have been to chapultepec many many times. Bantu was born in Chapultepec in 1991.
Only 3 zoos in mexico have gorillas at this moment. Bantu is the only male. Zacango zoo has a female named arila which was loaned to chapultepec in order to try to breed her with Bantu. The 2 animals did not get along. Guadalajara zoo has an older female Chencha and her 2 daughters, who were born at that zoo. The father, Chato died about 2 years ago. Due to Bantu´s character it seems unlikely that guadalajara will send one of their females to Chapultepec, though it may still occur.
I really still do not understand why the AZA Gorilla programme has not come forward to assist the Mexican zoos concerned with providing advice and/or prospective breeding partners for their gorillas (plenty of candidates here and there)!
Bantu was raised by his mother at chapultepec, but she was the only gorilla he had contact with for many years, at least until the attempted union with Arila, the female gorilla from Zacango zoo, which, as i mention above, failed. Bantu is simply not very social.
And yes, it would be good to find a mate for the young female gorillas at guadalajara zoo, since their mother, chencha is one of the last wild caught gorillas in the americas, and thus of great genetic value.
