Kifu is SO Greedy but SO Smart! 🦍❤️
Kifu has always been one of the most fascinating gorillas I’ve ever known. I’ve grown up with him—literally my entire life—and every single day, he finds a new way to surprise me. But if there’s one thing about Kifu that never changes, it’s how greedy he is when it comes to food! 😅
Whenever I bring food into the enclosure, I can always count on Kifu being front and center, ready before anyone else even realizes I’m there. His eyes light up the moment he sees me with a basket of fruits or vegetables. He’s clever, too—he knows exactly which sound means “feeding time.” You can almost see him doing the mental math, figuring out where I’ll place the food next, and how to get there before anyone else.
And poor Tambaby—his sweet, gentle wife—is almost always the victim of his greedy genius. 🥹 She’ll be sitting peacefully, minding her own business, taking her time to savor a nice piece of fruit, when suddenly… Kifu swoops in. One quick move, and whatever she had is gone. He’ll flash this cheeky look at me, like, “What? I’m just making sure she’s sharing!” It’s impossible not to laugh.
Tambaby never fights him for it, either. That’s just not her nature. She’s calm, kind, and endlessly patient. You can see the difference between them so clearly: Kifu, the confident and strategic silverback, always in charge, and Tambaby, the nurturing heart of the family. Their dynamic is so beautiful to watch—it’s real, raw, and full of personality.
Over the years, I’ve come to see their relationship as something truly special. It’s built on understanding, patience, and trust—just like any deep bond, human or otherwise. Even when Kifu steals her food, you can still see the affection between them. He’s protective, always keeping an eye on her, always ensuring she’s safe. It’s his way of showing love… even if he does occasionally eat her banana first! 🍌😅
A Lifetime of Love and Trust
For those of you who might be new here, I’ve known these gorillas my entire life. They’re not just animals to me—they’re family. ❤️
Our wildlife sanctuary is where I grew up, and it’s where my passion for conservation began. It’s also the heart of one of the most extraordinary missions on Earth: rescuing animals and returning them back to the wild.
That’s something we’re deeply proud of—and fiercely committed to. We are completely anti-zoo, because we believe that any animal that can go back to the wild, should. No living being should spend their life behind bars if they have a chance to live free. Freedom is the most natural right there is. 🌍🙏
And what makes our work truly unique is that, to this day, we are the only people in the world who have successfully rewilded gorillas. That’s right—our team has managed to return gorillas to their natural habitat, where they now live freely, wild and independent.
So far, nearly 80 gorillas have been rewilded through our program. 🦍🌿 That’s 80 incredible individuals who were once in captivity or human care, now thriving in the forests where they belong. And that’s not all—across species, we’ve now returned almost 2,000 animals to the wild. Lions, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, gorillas—you name it. Each release is a story of hope, resilience, and second chances.
Kifu’s Family Legacy
Kifu himself is an extraordinary part of that story. He’s not just a greedy genius—he’s a father, a leader, and a symbol of what true conservation can achieve.
Several of his sons have already been rewilded, now living freely in Africa, leading their own families. It’s surreal to think that the gorillas I’ve grown up with here have offspring that are now wild-born and thriving in their ancestral homes. That’s the dream—seeing generations of animals return to their roots.
When I visit the rewilded groups, I sometimes spot traits that remind me of Kifu—the way they walk, their expressions, even their intelligence. It’s like a piece of him lives on in every one of them.
And that’s exactly why we do what we do. Because every animal deserves that chance—to live the life they were meant to live.
Why Freedom Matters
Working with these animals every day, you realize how complex, emotional, and intelligent they truly are. Gorillas in particular are so similar to us—it’s humbling. They have families, friendships, and emotions that run deep.
When you see them in the wild—free to climb, forage, play, and raise their young—it’s a feeling that’s impossible to describe. There’s peace in knowing they are home.
But when you see them behind glass, pacing in a cage, you can see the sadness in their eyes. You can feel the loss. That’s why our mission is so important. We’re not just rescuing animals—we’re restoring their dignity, their instincts, and their right to live freely.
It’s not always easy. It takes years of preparation, rehabilitation, and coordination with conservation teams on the ground. But every single time one of our animals takes that first step back into the wild, it’s worth it. Every challenge disappears the moment you see them disappear into the trees, strong and free again. 🌳🦍
The Joy of Connection
Kifu and Tambaby remind me every day why love and trust are at the heart of everything we do. These relationships can’t be forced—they grow naturally, over time, through respect.
When you spend years around animals like this, you learn their personalities, their moods, their quirks. You communicate through body language, through calm presence. There are no words—just mutual understanding.
That’s why I always say our relationships with the gorillas are completely natural. No chains, no training, no barriers—just love and trust. 🫶
A Promise to Keep Going
Every time I watch Kifu sneak a piece of food from Tambaby, I can’t help but laugh and feel grateful. It’s a simple moment, but it represents so much. It’s life, it’s love, it’s freedom.
And it’s a reminder of why we keep fighting for these animals—why we’ll never stop until every one of them that can go back to the wild, does.
We’ve already rewilded nearly 2,000 animals, but there’s still so much more to do. The dream is to see a world where sanctuaries like ours no longer need to exist—because animals are no longer being taken from the wild in the first place.
Until then, we’ll keep rescuing, rehabilitating, and rewilding. We’ll keep fighting for freedom, one animal at a time. 🌍❤️
And as for Kifu… well, I’ll keep trying to sneak Tambaby her food. But let’s be honest—he’ll probably still win every time. 😅🦍
