Durrell have described this as one of the most important programmes in their 47-year history, but it has only worked once in the world before – and the result of that was Ya Kwanza himself 22 years ago in Australia.
The giant silverback gorilla went under anaesthetic for a second time to enable semen to be taken.
An earlier attempt at artificially inseminating the female Bahasha failed and, frustratingly for the medical team, the second attempt had to be abandoned too.
Although Ya Kwanza has fathered two offspring in Jersey as a result of mating with Hlala Kahilli, he has not yet shown signs of interest in any of the other females.
Durrell admit that since the death of Jambo gorilla breeding has been ‘disappointing’ and it was for that reason that they decided to intervene.
It was deemed necessary because of the genetic importance of Ya Kwanza’s lineage to the European managed gorilla programme.
