VietNamNet Bridge – The two gorillas (Pan Troglodytes) presented by Japan are becoming acquainted with their new living environment at the Saigon Zoo.

The female gorilla named Cai at Saigon Zoo.

They have been given new Vietnamese names, Cai for the female and Cut for the male gorilla. In Vietnamese, Cai means female and Cut means crippled (Cut is missing a finger). The day they arrived in Vietnam, Cai, 18 years old, was 60kg in weight, while Cut, 21, was 50kg.

Pham Anh Dung, Chief of the Animal Team of Saigon Zoo, said that in his first days in Vietnam, Cut shed his hair because of the strange weather. However, the male gorilla has quickly recovered and he has new hair.

Dung said this species of gorilla is found in Africa. Wars on that continent are threatening gorillas, putting them at risk of extinction.

The gorillas eat fruit. They are now living in an iron cage and separated from visitors by a 2m-wide canal.

Previously the Saigon Zoo had three gorillas, which were presented by Germany in 1991. They delivered two baby gorillas. However, two of them died and one was sent to the Hanoi Zoo.

When the two new gorillas become fully familiar with the new environment, they will be put together with the two other gorillas to encourage reproduction.

Before receiving the two gorillas, the Saigon Zoo imported two white rhinos from Africa. They have been living at the zoo for nearly one year and they are very healthy.

V. Giang