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Jojo the gorilla has spent his life alone. Can he finally find a companion?
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Jojo, a male gorilla taken from the wild as an infant and kept in isolation for over a decade, now lives alone in a sanctuary in Gabon and shows signs of chronic stress and loneliness.
- Experts emphasize the importance of social bonds for gorillas' psychological health and rehabilitation, noting that Jojo's prolonged isolation is an extreme case impacting his well-being.
- Finding a compatible gorilla companion for Jojo is complicated by international regulations designed for breeding programs, not for reintroductions or social companionship.
- Introducing Jojo to another gorilla would require careful, gradual processes, but it remains uncertain how he would respond given his maturity and trauma history.
- Despite the challenges, Jojo's caretakers and researchers believe that having a companion could be healing and improve his quality of life, although solitary living is somewhat common among mature male gorillas.
