Local News

Frankie, a 7-year-old gorilla from Pittsburgh, and Moke, an 8-year-old from Washington, D.C., are expected to arrive later this year.

Franklin Park Zoo is saying goodbye to one of its best-known residents — and preparing for two new arrivals.

Little Joe, the 33-year-old western lowland gorilla who has lived at the zoo for decades, will move to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium as part of a breeding recommendation. In return, Pittsburgh’s 7-year-old gorilla Frankie will come to Boston.

Franklin Park Zoo is also expected to welcome Moke, an 8-year-old gorilla from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Little Joe’s next chapter

The changes are part of a broader effort to manage gorilla populations across accredited zoos. Little Joe’s transfer was recommended through the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which supports genetic diversity among western lowland gorillas.

Zoo officials said the move gives Little Joe a chance to lead his own troop and start a family. That was not possible at Franklin Park Zoo because he is too closely related to Kiki, the zoo’s matriarch, and her daughters.

Little Joe’s departure marks a major change for Franklin Park Zoo, where he has lived since 1997. Over the years, he became one of the zoo’s most recognizable animals.

His time in Boston also included a high-profile escape in 2003. Little Joe was loose for about two hours, and a toddler and teenager were attacked, according to The Boston Globe. The escape led to safety upgrades at the zoo.

Two new gorillas coming to Boston

After Little Joe leaves, Frankie and Moke will join Pablo, Franklin Park Zoo’s 5-year-old male gorilla, to form a “bachelor group.” In the wild, young male gorillas often leave their family groups before leading troops of their own. Bachelor groups allow younger males to live together before they are ready to become silverbacks.

The two new gorillas will bring a younger dynamic to Franklin Park Zoo’s habitat. Pittsburgh Zoo officials described Frankie as “playful and chill,” while Smithsonian officials described Moke as energetic and ready for a new social group.

No exact date has been announced for Little Joe’s departure.