Out of Africa for the first time to learn about gorillas at Bristol Zoo

An African primate keeper is improving his knowledge of gorillas with a three-week training visit to Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Ernest Bongmoyong is the head keeper at a primate sanctuary in Cameroon that cares for more than 250 young primates, orphaned by the illegal bushmeat trade.

Mefou National Park is one of the largest primate sanctuaries in Africa and is run by conservation charity Ape Action Africa, which has its UK base at the zoo.

It is the first time Mr Bongmoyong has left Cameroon and the trip has been funded by volunteers at the park who believed he deserved the opportunity to visit the zoo to gain knowledge and skills to benefit the project in Cameroon.

He said: "I only work with young primates, including tiny babies, so seeing Bristol Zoo's family group, including the adult gorillas, is fascinating for me. It's a whole new experience. Jock the silverback male is a very impressive creature.

"I've been shadowing Bristol Zoo's keepers and learning all about gorilla behaviour, diet and animal husbandry techniques, as well as gorilla enclosure design. It's all important information that I can take back to Cameroon to benefit the primates we look after over there."

Up to 80 per cent of the chimpanzee population throughout Africa has already been lost due to illegal hunting and the destruction of the forest for logging. It is feared that without major conservation effort all the chimpanzees and other apes in Cameroon could soon be wiped out.

Dr Bryan Carroll, zoo operations manager, said: "Most of the primates at the Mefou National Park have had a difficult start in life, with many having been rescued by park staff just days old and hours from death.

"It's a very different start in life to our gorillas and monkeys here in Bristol."