Gino led Disney’s gorilla troop for 30 years. Now a 21-year-old named Bakari has the job
Following the death of Gino, its leader for almost three decades, Disney's Animal Kingdom has introduced Bakari, a 21-year-old gorilla transferred from a Missouri zoo, as its new troop leader.
For almost 30 years, a gorilla named Gino led the troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, caring for younger members of the group and becoming a familiar presence for generations of park visitors. Now, following his death in 2025 at age 44, a new leader has stepped in: 21-year-old Bakari.
Bakari arrived at the park from the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri and made his public debut at the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail on June 30, according to a Fox 35 report. His move to Disney’s Animal Kingdom was carried out under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for western lowland gorillas, a programme that coordinates the transfer of animals between zoos to support breeding and preserve genetic diversity.
Before introducing Bakari to the public, Disney’s animal care team spent time helping him settle into his unfamiliar surroundings. Guests can now watch him at the gorilla habitat as he continues adjusting to his new role leading the troop.
Disney paid tribute to Gino when announcing his death, describing him as an animal who “touched countless lives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with his playful spirit, gentle humour, and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader.” The park also credited him with 14 offspring and lasting contributions to gorilla conservation efforts, a legacy Bakari now carries forward at the park.
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