by Gerry Warren

An emotional reunion between Damian Aspinall and a male gorilla, which he relocated from its birthplace at Howletts Wild Animal Park to live free in the forests of Africa, has become a YouTube hit.

Kwibi was brought up at the park where he formed a close bond with Damian. But when he was five years old, he was transported to Gabon and taught to live wild and free in The Aspinall Foundation’s protected reserve.

Five years on, the clip shows an emotional reunion between the two old friends. Posted just three weeks ago it has already attracted more than 400,000 views.

The touching reunion clearly shows the friendship between Kwibi and Damian who had not seen each other since they were parted. It was captured by camera crew filming a new documentary about The Aspinall Foundation’s work with gorillas called Gorilla School which is showing on Tuesdays at 8.00pm on Animal Planet. The series charts the journey of the latest gorillas to be reintroduced into the wild from their birthplace at the successful captive breeding programs of Howletts and Port Lympne.

Each episode follows the gorillas as they are transported from England to The Aspinall Foundation’s reserve, and the enormous challenges they face as they learn how to survive in the wilderness.

Head of Communications at The Aspinall Foundation, Eddie Kemsley, said: “I think the story of Kwibi and Damian has made such an impact because it illustrates a deep and profound friendship that has survived the barriers of species, time and wilderness.

“The compassion and understanding that these gorillas express, reflected by Kwibi and his family, never fails to astound us, which makes it all the more devastating that they are under constant threat of extinction. It would be unforgivable if we were to preside over the disappearance of these magnificent beings and I hope that the exposure of Damian and Kwibi’s story will be an inspiration to people to act before it is too late."

See footage of the reunion above or by clicking here.