A new life for Buu in Fuengirola

Although these are the times of speed dating and Tinder, it is still possible to find love with the help of a matchmaker and arranged marriage. That, at least, is what is happening to one of the most famous inhabitants of Bioparc, a gorilla called Echo, who more than a year after arriving in Fuengirola is about to meet his future partner.

This is what the park staff hope will be the start of a new life: a 20-year-old female called Buu travelled from her previous home at Chessington Zoo near London this week to Bioparc to take up a very important position: the second member of the breeding group of the gorilla species at the park. It is hoped that Buu, who has already given birth once in London, will create a new family with Echo.

Some months ago, after the death of Ernst, the iconic silverback gorilla who lived at the Bioparc for more than 14 years, the park transformed its facilities, security measures and the protocols of the technical and veterinary team to become the fifth park with a gorilla breeding programme in Spain. The initiative is extremely important, because this species is among the ten most endangered primates in the world. It has been decided that the park is ideal to house a male and two fertile female gorillas, who will share their habitat with Kim, an elderly female who lives there at present.

Echo, a young male from Kolmarden zoo in Sweden, arrived at Bioparc in May last year. After a year and a half with Kim, he has adapted perfectly to his new home, his companion and his keepers. The transfer and the coordination between the Swedish zoo and the Fuengirola park was "a total success", say sources at Bioparc. The arrival of Buu is the next step in the lowland gorilla reproduction project, which will conclude when the second fertile female is brought here next year.

After weeks of coordination between Chessington and Bioparc, Javier Vicent, a keeper in Fuengirola, set off for London last week, for what he described as a "unique experience in my professional life".

A new life

Before Javier accompanied Buu to Fuengirola, he had to learn as much as he could about her: her character, daily diet, favourite food, habitual behaviour, customs, relationship with her keepers, etc.

These animals are much more sociable than other primates such as chimpanzees, but this process is essential for Buu as well as Javier, because there needs to be a close link between them. Every animal's personality is different and Javier's work involves getting to know and understand them.

Bioparc expects that it will take three to four weeks for Buu to adapt to her new surroundings and companions, after which time visitors will be able to see her.

Once she has settled in, everyone at the Bioparc will be hoping that this will be the start of a long and happy fertile life for its gorillas.