Animal lovers rejoice, we have exciting news coming out of the UK! In the wee hours of the morning on August 19th, 2020, the stork made a very special delivery to Bristol Zoo Gardens. While the delivery of any baby is a special one, this particular baby is a critically endangered western lowland gorilla. (1)
Baby Gorilla Welcomed With Open Arms
The proud mama, nine-year-old Kala, is doing a great job with her newborn baby. She gave birth naturally with the whole family and father Jock looking on from a few yards away. By the time the keepers at the Gorilla House arrived for work in the morning, the baby was nestled sweetly in Kala’s arms.
Lynsey Bugg, Curator of Mammals at Bristol Zoo, said: “She is being very attentive and taking good care of her baby. It’s very early days but we are cautiously optimistic. The early signs are good and the baby looks to be a good size and is strong.” (1)
This is fantastic news, not just for the immediate family, but for the whole western lowland gorilla population. The baby gorilla joins a family of six, all part of a breeding program sponsored by the Bristol Zoological Society that helps bolster the numbers of this critically endangered gorilla. They’re doing great work, and not just locally in the UK.
Little Baby Gorilla, Great Big Movement
One of their most important projects focuses on the western lowland gorilla population in Monte Alén National Park. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) notes this region as critical for the conservation of these gorillas. Another of the Zoological Society’s projects is more than 20 years old, supporting a sanctuary in Cameroon that cares for orphaned gorillas and chimpanzees.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is fortunate to be owned and operated by the Bristol Zoological Society, who does all this incredible work and more. So we know that this baby gorilla will be loved and cared for right. Which is how it always should be but unfortunately is not.
Traditionally adult gorillas are hunted for their meat, while the juveniles are often taken from them and sold as pets. We have all heard the stories of people who adopt exotic pets. Give them a few months and they discover they are in over their heads. They end up surrendering the animal to a rescue facility. This is not an ideal situation, as the poor thing then requires human care and attention for the rest of its natural life. Speaking of “natural” the gorilla won’t be able to live in the wild, and truly be free. Even worse, some negligent owners do choose in favor of abandoning them to fend for themselves in the wild. Of course, that never ends well.
It’s wonderful that Bristol Zoo Gardens and the Bristol Zoological Society can be a beacon of hope for these critically endangered gorillas.
Lynsey Bugg said it best: “We are all thrilled. There is something very special about seeing a new-born baby gorilla, they are such an iconic and charismatic species.” (1)
Definitely a species worth protecting.
