To raise awareness for these majestic animals, World Gorilla Day at Audubon Zoo will feature special chats with animal care professionals, collectable trading cards, a fun gorilla photo op, as well as unique, one-of-a-kind creations made by the gorillas themselves.

Gorillas enjoy chewing on branches or “browse” as enrichment and after stripping off the tasty leaves, the branches are left with unique marks from gorilla teeth! Animal care volunteers have taken these branches, thoroughly cleaned and sealed them, and created exclusive and “gorilla made” walking sticks, photo frames, key chains and more! These limited items will be for sale during World Gorilla Day along with other merchandise showcasing the artwork on the commemorative trading cards. All funds raised will benefit Audubon’s conservation efforts.

Audubon Zoo has four Western lowland gorillas in its troop: Okpara, the silverback, and three females Alafia, Tumani, and Praline, who guests may remember as she was born at Audubon Zoo in 1996. Western lowland gorillas are considered a critically endangered species largely due to habitat loss, poaching, and disease.

Audubon encourages guests to help gorillas in the wild by recycling old, unwanted tech devices. Rare earth minerals including coltan are used in making cell phones and other small electronic devices. These minerals are mined in parts of Africa that are also important habitat for gorillas. Recycling old tech devices can help reduce the demand for these minerals and helps preserve gorilla habitat. Drop-off boxes are located near the gorillas as well as at the Zoo’s front gate.

Rare earth minerals including coltan are used in cell phones and other small electronic devices. These minerals are mined in parts of Africa that are also important habitat for gorillas. Recycling old tech devices can help reduce the demand for these minerals and preserve gorilla habitat.

Audubon Zoo has four critically endangered Western lowland gorillas in its troop – male Okpara, and three females, Alafia, Praline, and Tumani. Their social structure at Audubon mirrors how they would live in the wild. Those who know them best, their animal care team, will host special keeper chats on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to share more information about these amazing animals, their habitat and behaviors, and answer questions about the troop and conservation to help protect their environment.

Each of Audubon’s gorillas as a special collectable trading card that will be given away during keeper chats on “Cell Phone Saturday.” Guests can also learn more about gorillas and gorilla conservation by exploring our biofact table and gorilla-themed activities.

Cell Phone Saturdays at Audubon Zoo are from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on these dates:

May 30th, 2026

June 27th, 2026

July 25th, 2026

August 29th, 2026

The gorillas at Audubon Zoo have been working on their special art projects recently and will have a little piece of gorilla art for guests who bring in old phones and other tech to recycle.

There is a tech recycling box near the gorilla exhibit at Audubon Zoo and at the front gate.  

Despite the heroic efforts of Audubon’s animal care and veterinary teams, the infant died shortly after it was born on January 23, 2026. Audubon’s veterinarians will conduct additional exams to try and determine the infant’s cause of death.

The infant was the second for 18-year-old Tumani, and dad 31-year-old Okpara. In 2020, their first infant died due to an unexpected medical condition with Tumani.

Western lowland gorillas like those at Audubon Zoo have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered, with a population decline of more than 80%, mainly due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss, and an increase in poaching.

This pregnancy is the result of successful breeding between 18-year-old Tumani and Okpara, a 32-year-old silverback gorilla. The infant is due to arrive in mid-February and Audubon’s animal care team is watching the mother-to-be closely as they await the birth.

The infant will be welcomed by the rest of the Zoo’s gorilla troop: females Alafia and Praline, who was born at Audubon Zoo in 1996. This is Tumani’s second pregnancy, unfortunately she had an unexpected medical condition with her first pregnancy and the infant did not survive.

Audubon Zoo’s gorillas are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The Gorilla Species Survival Plan manages 343 gorillas in 49 North American zoos to ensure a genetically diverse population and the long-term sustainability of the species.

Updates on Tumani’s pregnancy and a virtual baby registry can be found at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/tumanis-baby-gorilla-registry

By making a baby registry donation, the public can help provide enrichment for the baby and the Zoo’s entire troop. Gorillas require daily enrichment that promotes natural behaviors like nesting, tool use, and climbing.

“Each gorilla birth plays a critical role in the conservation of the species. Our dedicated team is monitoring Tumani around-the-clock, and we are all excited to welcome this new infant. Protecting gorillas and ensuring their future remains at the heart of our mission,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Audubon Nature Institute’s Chief Executive Officer and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership.

The Zoo will host a gorilla party on Saturday January 31, 2026, to celebrate the upcoming arrival and mother-to-be Tumani’s 19^th birthday. Activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and will include special enrichment for the troop, keeper chats, and games to guess the size of a baby gorilla and more.

Many gorilla populations have declined or disappeared over the past few decades. Western lowland gorillas have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered, with a population decline of more than 80%, mainly due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss, and an increase in poaching.

This Saturday, June 28, 2025, is a special “Cell Phone Saturday” at Audubon Zoo where guests can bring in old phones and other tech to recycle. One of the important parts of electronic devices like phones is a mineral called coltan that is mined in areas where gorillas live in the wild. The more we can recycle old devices, the less of this mineral is mined.

The gorillas at Audubon Zoo have been working on their painting skills, and guests who bring in old phones and other tech for recycling on “Cell Phone Saturday” will receive a little piece of gorilla art as a “thank you” for recycling and learning more about gorillas.

There are four gorillas in Audubon’s gorilla troop, each has a special trading card that will be given away during keeper chats on “Cell Phone Saturday”, guests can also learn more about gorillas and gorilla conservation by exploring our biofact table and gorilla-themed activities.

If you miss this “Cell Phone Saturday”, there is another one scheduled for July 26, 2025. Donations of electronic devices are always accepted at the Audubon Zoo’s front gate, at Audubon Aquarium, and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center.

This Saturday is a special “Cell Phone Saturday” at Audubon Zoo where guests can bring in old phones and other tech to recycle. One of the important parts of electronic devices like phones is a mineral called coltan that is mined in areas where gorillas live in the wild. The more we can recycle old devices, the less of this mineral is mined.

The gorillas at Audubon Zoo have been working on their painting skills, and guests who bring in old phones and other tech will receive a little piece of gorilla art as a “thank you” for recycling and learning more about gorillas.

There are four gorillas in Audubon’s gorilla troop, each has a special trading card that will be given away during keeper chats on “Cell Phone Saturday.” Guests can also learn more about gorillas and gorilla conservation by exploring our biofact table and gorilla-themed activities.

Cell Phone Saturdays are:

May 31, June 28, and July 26

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

There is a tech recycling box near the gorilla exhibit at Audubon Zoo. Electronics can also be recycled at the Zoo’s front gate, at Audubon Aquarium, and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center.

Audubon Zoo is hosting four special “Cell Phone Saturdays” to encourage people to learn about gorillas and make it easy to recycle your old tech. Guests can also talk with gorilla keepers to learn more about the four gorillas that live in Audubon Zoo’s troop, as well as learn more about gorillas and gorilla conservation by exploring our biofact table and gorilla-themed activities.  Our gorillas will have a special artistic keepsake for you as a “thank you” for donating your old devices in a special “Gorillas on the Line” recycling box near the Zoo’s gorilla habitat.

Cell Phone Saturdays at Audubon Zoo

April 26, May 31, June 28, and July 26

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Each gorilla in the Zoo’s troop has their own trading card and guests who attend special gorilla keeper chats during Cell Phone Saturdays will receive a card while supplies last. A different member of the troop is featured each month.

Electronics can also be recycled at the Zoo’s front gate, at Audubon Aquarium, and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center.