Silverback shows strength to female gorilla｜Shabani Group 

They're related to most of the gorillas around the world. It's kinda hard to find mates right now. And if you take Kiyo away, whose Shabani going to play with? NeNe is too old to play very much and AI isn't as playful.

@@tracey9116 but he is related to some of the females in the group. The big guy won't let him mate with the females in the group.

@@cyndi.K9090 I am very aware, but they're very limited on mates for them. Trust me, I've worked with 23 species of primates, including western lowland gorillas, and have been tracing their lineage for many years. Shabani is on loan to the zoo and there aren't any females within breeding age close by for Kiyo nor males for Annie. Kiyo and Annie will be stuck there for some time. I'm actually disappointed because Shabani is an amazing silverback as well but he will not produce any more offspring with Nene or AI. The birth control ruins their "mating moods". Plus, Nene is too old to be having babies. Shabani and family are also the zoo's gorilla family, who many visitors come to see. It's a combination of many things.

These titles are annoying anymore. They breed such ignorance and hatred. I love the zoo/VOs/keepers, but Shabani can't always be threatening 24/7! 🙄

there is a part where shabani is indeed exhibiting strength near nene and kiyo.

@@irenekopec9892 can you smell him? That's really the only way you can tell as they excrete hormones that stink horribly while flexing as alpha.

I agree. So often shabani just wants to play.

I imagine Annie favoring Kriba when she's older. Kriba is her aunt and Kaius grandmother, and she is gorgeous.

Kibabu the grandfather of the baby is pretty darn gorgeous.😉​@@tracey9116

Gorillas love salt the walls are probably salty to them.

Yeah it's a concern for sure as they seem to do it quite a lot

I agree!

You can't have 2 silverbacks related in any troop.

It looks like kiyo was playing with a piece of grass sticking to the wall and and grabbing it with his lips,

I wonder if they just like the texture on their lips

@@oddverse566 they're definitely texture freaks. Actually, some silverbacks get overstimulated by textures. I'm glad you noticed this because I've been saying this for years. A silverback I worked with back in the 90's had a thing for leather. Seriously. He absolutely hated wood, rock, and any rough texture. So they covered his area in old leather . He would touch and sniff it so much throughout the day.

Someone said he’s around 440 pounds

I've wondered that too, as I've see all of them lick the walls occasionally.

@cyndi.K9090 this one I noticed he was licking maybe grass or scat off the wall when his mom shows up. Then in that little doorway he's just licking it for fun

Peut être ont ils soif ?

I think they are getting salt from the walls. They have a water fountain inside.

They also have a small water pond outside.

Magari!

@@eagleblack6254 she it looks it, right!?

Io ci spero!

I doubt it. If anything, she's been rejecting Shabani quite a bit as of late.

@@eagleblack6254 anche io