Multiple gorillas vanished from their habitat at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on March 2, with Walt Disney World Resort cast members confirming to guests that the “full troop was not available.”
Visitors to the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in the Africa section found several mammals absent from their usual spots. WDWNT reported that only male apes from the family troop were visible—no females or juveniles were present.
Two Separate Troops at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park houses two gorilla groups: a bachelor troop and a family troop. The setup mimics natural behavior, in which mature males separate from families to form all-male groups until mating.
The family troop was led for nearly three decades by Gino, a 44-year-old male who died last September. Gino had been at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park since the park opened in 1998, fathering several offspring and gaining recognition as one of the first gorillas worldwide to allow cardiac ultrasounds without anesthesia.
No Explanation Provided
Disney cast members stationed on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail informed guests that the full troop wasn't available but provided no details about the females' and juveniles' whereabouts. WDWNT posted a photo on Facebook showing a single male on display, noting the absence of other family members.
Walt Disney World Resort has not issued a statement explaining why multiple gorillas were removed from the habitat or when they'll return. The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail remains open to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park guests.
Possible explanations for the absence include veterinary care, breeding management, social group adjustments, or routine rotations between on-exhibit and backstage areas. Without an official answer, the reason for removing most of the family troop from public view on March 2 remains unknown.
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