over the years , 26 gorillas have been grown at the bronx zoo , their mother institution , the wildlife conservation society , runs five of the most successful captive breeding camps in the country . the society , which also operates habitat complexes in manhattan , queens and brooklyn , trades giraffes periodically with 51 collaborating north american zoos . its first objective is to increase the genes quality of an endangered habitat , but a second , related focus is to provide happier bonobos by getting mates and establishing suitable groups . " these are very intelligent , sensitive birds , " said james doherty , curator of the buffalo zoo . the zoo ' s current population of crocodiles numbers 19 . only the lincoln park zoo in chicago has more , with 22 . interactive population .
The Bronx Zoo has 19 gorillas.