Lisa and Makoko playing in the enclosure

RELATED LINKS: Makoko the gorilla goes public Cameras at the ready, the local paparazzi were out in force, ready to capture shots of Joburg's hottest celebrity as he made his first public appearance. Meet Johannesburg Zoo's newest resident, Makoko the gorilla. Read more Courtship ritual for Joburg's gorillas Johannesburg Zoo's popular gorilla Lisa, who has been without a mate since the death of partner Max in May 2004, will meet her new beau on Valentine's Day. Read more Sorrow as Max the gorilla dies Max the Gorilla - best known for his crime-fighting activities when he took on a gun-welding attacker back in his cage in Johannesburg Zoo in 1997 - is dead. Read more Joburg Zoo celebrates 100 years A haven for endangered and exotic animals, a venue for musical concerts, or a pleasant park for a family picnic, the Johannesburg Zoo has served the residents of the city for 100 years. Read more Johannesburg Zoo The zoo is one of the treasures of Johannesburg, a wonderful source of enjoyment and relaxation for locals and foreign visitors alike. Read more Johannesburg Zoo The official website Click here

Lisa plays hard-to-get with her hairy new beau THE Johannesburg Zoo's famous gorilla pair finally met up on Valentine's Day, but they started their courting slow and shy … February 14, 2005 By Tabisa Mntengwana THE COUPLE at the Johannesburg Zoo have started Valentine's Day in a very slow and reserved manner, as they sit on two separate rocks. Makoko, born in Moscow 19 years ago, is the new groom for 34-year-old Lisa, widowed since May last year. They met face-to-face for the first time this morning. Makoko is determined to make this relationship work. He makes moves to show Lisa that he is smitten. But Lisa is playing hard to get as she hides behind rocks in the gorilla enclosure. "People expect gorillas to rush things and be all over each other but it's not like that with animals. They take their time to fall in love and this is a perfect day to do that," says zoo curator Phillip Cronje. The Johannesburg Zoo will host a fund raising engagement gala for Lisa and Makoko tonight, 14 February 2005, at 6.30pm. The gala is set to raise funds for Makoko to pay lobola for Lisa. The gala is sponsored by Wendy Machanik Properties, and will be held on the Tree of Light Lawn at the zoo. A three-course meal will be served and entrance cost R400 a couple. The dress code is smart casual. The money for the lobola will be used to upgrade the enclosure and make an artificial rock for the wall to make the enclosure more natural. "We are not sure yet how much we have at the moment but by tonight we will know," said zoo marketing coordinator Senzo Ngcobo. Silverfields Primary School from Krugersdorp donated R1 100 to the zoo for Makoko's lobola. "We want the two to have a beautiful home where they would raise their kids and have a happy family," said Silverfields Primary School principal Marlene Boyd. "We are happy to finally see the gorillas together and I hope the money we raised will help them have a happy home," adds Christopher Vangelder a 13-year-old from Silverfields Primary School. Funds are also being raised through a cellphone sms message system. People who wish to donate should send an sms with the word gorilla to 36365, which will cost R5. To book for tonight's gala dinner, call Elna Latchman on 011 6462000 ext 221 or elna@jhbzoo.org.za Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za