Kinyani is a female Western lowland gorilla whom Ivan encounters at the Zoo Atlanta. When Ivan meets her, Kinyani became interested with him romantically, whom Ivan thinks she is beautiful, trying to test him to make sure of how Ivan can behave like what a real silverback does. Not much of Kinyani's personality is known as she does not speak.
Role in the film[]
Kinyani only appears at the end of the film where Ivan adapts to his new life at the Zoo Atlanta after being released from the Big Top Mall. As Ivan sees her in a large enclosure walking past two gorilla offspring playing with each other, Kinyani and the two other young gorillas stare at Ivan as he gets attracted to her. Just as Kinyani stares at Ivan, he suddenly hears a herd of elephants trumpeting, which reminds him of Ruby adapting to a new herd of elephants as Ivan continues his happy life at the zoo, much to Kinyani noticing Ivan approaching the elephants in the enclosure.
Trivia[]
Kinyani is based on the real-life deaf gorilla of the same name who lived with Ivan until 2011 where she left for the Columbus Zoo, a year before Ivan passed away in 2012, which in turn later inspired the novel The One and Only Ivan, still featuring Kinyani in it.
Kinyani's name was not mentioned in the film and her name is only seen in the end credits.
