 |
Matata, Kanzi's Mother |
Kanzi was born to Lorel in Atlanta. Within half an hour of his birth, he was taken by another female "Matata" while Lorel slept. Matata already had an infant herself named Akili, but she refused to give Kanzi back to Lorel and raised Kanzi as her own.
Matata and Kanzi were transferred to Georgia to the Language Research Center where they encountered Dr. Sue Savage Rumbaugh. Lorel and Akili were transferred to the San Diego Zoo.
 |
| Elikya, Kanzi's Mate |
In 2005 Kanzi was moved to the Great Ape Trust, where his family joined him and flourished. Matata, her daughters Panbanisha and Elikya, and her son Maisha joined the Trust. Panbanisha gave birth to Nyota, a male.
In 2010 Kanzi became the father of Teco, a male bonobo. Teco's mother is Elikya.
 |
| Teco, Kanzi's Son |
Kanzi, Panbanisha, Maisha, Nyota, Elikya, and Baby Teco all live together in Des Moines at the Great Ape Trust, along with their matriarch Matata.
To find out more about Kanzi's family and the other residents of the Great Ape Trust, click on this link: http://www.greatapetrust.org/about-the-trust/meet-our-apes/.
"Great Ape Trust | Meet Our Apes, Bonobos, Oragutans, Kanzi, Panbanisha, Elikya, Teco, Nyota, Maisha, Matata, Rocky, Allie ." Great Ape Trust | Bonobos, Orangutans and the Study of Ape Language, Tools and Intelligence. Web. 02 Jan. 2011. <http://www.greatapetrust.org/about-the-trust/meet-our-apes/>.
