The Oklahoma City Zoo added two critically endangered Western lowland gorillas to its Great EscApe habitat. Kashata, a 33-year-old mother, and her 7-year-old daughter Grace arrived earlier in summer 2026 from an AZA-accredited institution in Central Florida, bringing the zoo's family troop to seven.
The pair transferred following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, a cooperative program that manages breeding and placement of endangered species across accredited zoos, the Journal Record reported.
"We're thrilled to welcome Kashata and Grace to our gorilla family," said Pace Frank, assistant curator of primates at the Oklahoma City Zoo. "The girls are thriving and have successfully integrated into the troop."
Western lowland gorillas are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Wild populations face threats from poaching, disease and habitat destruction driven by mining operations in Central and Western Africa.
Caretakers describe Kashata as confident and intelligent. Grace has earned a reputation as the playful one, showing particular curiosity during training sessions.
The two went through a gradual introduction process before joining the existing troop, which includes silverback Togo, 37, and females Emily, 41; Mikella, 22; Rubi, 11; and Azinza, 8. The zoo also houses a separate bachelor troop of three males: George, 22; Bo, 20; and Bakari, 20.
How residents can help
The zoo connects the gorilla arrivals to a conservation effort visitors can join from home. Through its Gorillas on the Line program, the zoo collects old cell phones, tablets, chargers and other small electronics for recycling. The goal: reduce demand for coltan, a mineral mined in gorilla habitat and used in consumer electronics.
The Oklahoma City Zoo has collected nearly 5,000 devices since joining the national campaign in 2020, according to a March 2024 zoo blog post, and donates 100 percent of recycling proceeds to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, according to the zoo's conservation page. Visitors who drop off a device at the Guest Relations office during regular business hours receive a free general admission ticket.
Lead animal caretaker Stephanie Smith wrote in the March 2024 blog post that the gorillas at the OKC Zoo "are ambassadors for their wild counterparts" and urged residents to clear old phones from junk drawers to keep valuable materials in circulation.
Through 2025, the national Gorillas on the Line campaign had recycled more than 126,000 devices and raised nearly $88,000 for gorilla conservation, per the zoo's blog.
Kashata and Grace are now viewable by the public at Great EscApe.
Upcoming at the zoo
The Oklahoma City Zoo's Breakfast with the Animals returns Sept. 5, Sept. 12, and Sept. 19, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with early zoo access, an all-you-can-eat buffet and an animal ambassador presentation.
