Remember Little Joe? The Gorilla Who Escaped a Boston Zoo Is Now Leaving to Start a Family
Remember Little Joe? Boston’s famous escapee gorilla is leaving for a surprising reason.
If the name Little Joe rings a bell, you’re probably thinking of the gorilla that broke out of his enclosure at Franklin Park Zoo in 2003 and ran loose through Boston. That story made national headlines after the escape resulted in injury to a 2-year-old girl and forced the zoo to make major safety upgrades.
Now, more than two decades later, Little Joe is leaving Boston for good—and the reason is actually kind of sweet.
The real story behind Little Joe’s move
The 33-year-old western lowland gorilla is being transferred from Franklin Park Zoo to another accredited institution for one purpose: to start his own family. The zoo says the move is part of a breeding program, with Little Joe set to lead his own troop for the first time.
His destination hasn’t been publicly disclosed, and his departure is expected within the coming months, according to Zoo New England.
Zoo New England CEO Stephanie Brinley called the news “bittersweet” in a statement.
“We will all miss Little Joe, but we are also excited for this opportunity for him to lead his own troop and start a family, which is important for the preservation of the species,” Brinley said. “Months of careful planning and tremendous thought goes into these recommendations and this is not something that we enter into lightly. We are deeply committed to the conservation of this iconic species and to broadening people’s understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and the role we all play in preserving species and habitats for generations to come.”
Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species, facing threats in the wild from disease, poaching, logging and mining, according to Franklin Park Zoo.
What happened in 2003
For anyone who needs the refresher: Little Joe escaped his enclosure at Franklin Park Zoo in 2003 and made it into the surrounding Boston city area. A 2-year-old girl was injured during the incident. The zoo subsequently made safety upgrades in response.
The escape cemented Little Joe as one of Boston’s most infamous—and oddly beloved—zoo residents. He’s been at Franklin Park Zoo for decades since.
Who’s replacing Little Joe
Little Joe’s departure doesn’t mean the gorilla exhibit is going dark. The zoo has a detailed plan to bring in new residents this spring.
First up is Moke, an 8-year-old male gorilla coming from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. An additional male silverback from another zoo is also expected to arrive later.
The newcomers will join Pablo, a 5-year-old gorilla already living at Franklin Park Zoo, to form what the zoo is calling a “bachelor group.”
Assistant curator Erica Farrell explained the thinking behind the new arrangement.
“Pablo is reaching the age where he will be testing his family and pushing boundaries more,” Farrell said. “We hope that Pablo will bond with his new bachelor troop members while they are still young and develop relationships that will help them grow together through their teenage years, and beyond.”
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