Princess Anne to Open New Gorilla Habitat at Jersey Zoo

Princess Anne is set to officially open a new state-of-the-art gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo during a visit to the island next month, it has been announced in the States Assembly.

The Princess Royal, who serves as patron of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, will travel to Jersey on 30 April to unveil the purpose-built habitat. The new facility will be home to the zoo’s five gorillas — Badongo, Bahasha, Hlala, Kahilli and Amari.

Rebecca Brewer, chief executive of the trust, said she was “delighted” that the princess would attend the opening of the new development.

She described the new enclosure as a significant upgrade, saying it is nine times larger than the troop’s current home and expected to rank among the most modern gorilla facilities in Europe.

“We are so fortunate to have such a committed patron in the Princess Royal and look forward to showing HRH and islanders around this astonishing space,” she said.

The new habitat replaces the zoo’s existing gorilla house, which first opened in 1981. Designed to accommodate growing numbers, the enclosure features two large indoor areas, eight bedrooms, and dedicated training and weighing facilities to help keepers care for the animals safely.

Jersey Zoo has housed gorillas for more than six decades. In 2019, the organisation launched an island-wide public art trail featuring brightly painted sculptures to help raise funds for the new enclosure.