A Missouri zoo gorilla just became the new star of Disney’s Animal Kingdom

A gorilla that once called a Missouri zoo home is now the newest attraction at one of the world’s most visited theme parks. Bakari, a 21-year-old western lowland gorilla, has taken over as leader of the gorilla troop at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom after transferring from the Saint Louis Zoo.

Bakari made his public debut at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on June 30, where park guests can now watch him adjust to his new surroundings, according to a report by Fox 35. His arrival follows the death of Gino, the troop’s leader of almost 30 years, whose passing Disney announced in September 2025.

The transfer is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for western lowland gorillas, a coordinated effort in which zoos move animals between facilities to support breeding programmes and preserve genetic diversity within the species. Disney said its animal care team worked closely with Bakari before introducing him to visitors.

Gino, who died at age 44, spent nearly three decades leading and caring for younger gorillas in the troop. Disney remembered him as an animal with a “playful spirit, gentle humour, and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader,” noting that he left behind 14 offspring and a lasting legacy in gorilla conservation before Bakari stepped in to take his place.