Debby the Artist talks about Ernie a male silverback gorilla at the Bronx Zoo

My name is Debby and I am an animal artist.  Always have been one and always will be.  I love animals and have dedicated my life to teaching about animals using my artwork.

For the past 5 years I have been working as a Docent or tour guide at the Bronx Zoo.  I stopped in June because I moved to Florida.

Recently the Bronx Zoo got a new Silverback Mountain Gorilla named Ernie.  Ernie is a very large silverback with a very muscular body.  He is 15 years old and they are trying to mate him at the zoo.  Ernie has taken over for Fubo an old silverback that is no longer is on display.  Ernie poses for the camera as if he was posing for a picture in a magazine.

Gorillas live in troops, currently there are 3 troops at the Bronx Zoo.  Ernie is the head of one, Zurie is the head of another troop.The third troop is made up of young males who were born at the zoo and are starting to mature, getting to old to  live with Ernie and Zurie.

At the Bonx Zoo they have two exhibition areas, so two troops can be viewed at a time.  They are having trouble putting Zurie and Ernie's troops out together, because even though they can't see each other, these two siverbacks seem to aggrevate each other.  

 The Gorilla keeper told me they were trying to get Ernie and Zurie used to each other.  One time when I was at the gorilla house, the two were out together.  Ernie and Zurie kept pounding their chests and doing what is called the fearful dance.  In the hour I was at the gorilla house Ernie and Zurie did this fearfull dance 6 times, trying to intimidate each other.  That was the last time I saw Ernie and Zurie out together. After that the zoo keepers put out either Ernie or Zurie's troop with the all male troop on the other side.

These are all pictures of Ernie, a male silverback Gorilla at the Bronx Zoo.  Gorilla's are vegetarians.