20-year-old silverback joins Milwaukee County Zoo gorilla troop in new habitat 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County Zoo's new visitor is settling in just fine. Meet Azizi, a male silverback gorilla. 

Azizi is 20 years old and weighs about 400 lbs. She didn't have to travel far to get to Milwaukee. 

Azizi was born and raised at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and there's where she spent his life before moving in with females Dotty and Nadami in Milwaukee. 

Western lowland gorillas are native to a small area in the Congo in Africa. 

"They are critically endangered, so Azizi is an awesome representative, an ambassador for his species. We hope that visitors can come and see him, how incredible they all interact together," said Patricia Khan, curator, primates and small mammals at the Milwaukee County Zoo. 

This is Azizi's first time leading a family troop, and keepers say he's already pretty comfortable. 

You can see Azizi within the confines of the Stearns Family Apes of Africa building.

The introduction of Azizi to the Milwaukee County Zoo is part of a broader conservation effort, as western lowland gorillas like him are considered Critically Endangered. His move was coordinated under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, aiming to encourage future breeding with Dotty and Nadami to help preserve their species.

More information can be found by visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo online.