The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating a momentous occasion with the birth of a critically endangered western lowland baby gorilla. This precious new addition arrived in the early hours of Saturday morning, born to first-time mother Sue and experienced father Ktembe. The zoo’s expert Animal Care team has been closely monitoring the pair and reports that Sue is providing excellent care, nuzzling and cradling her newborn with great attentiveness.
To ensure Sue and her baby have ample time to bond without interruptions, the care team will determine the baby’s sex at a later date. The troop, which includes Ktembe and other adult females Nia and Cassie, has been adjusting well to the new arrival. Four-year-old Jamani, born to Cassie and Ktembe, has shown curiosity about her new half-sibling but is gently corrected by other troop members if she becomes too eager.
For the time being, the indoor viewing habitat in the Zoo’s Congo Expedition region will remain closed to provide the gorillas with some privacy. However, starting Monday, guests will be invited to visit the newly-expanded gorilla family from 11 a.m. until the zoo closes. While visitors may have the opportunity to see the gorillas, baby viewing is not guaranteed as the troop will have access to indoor and behind-the-scenes areas. These limited hours will continue for the near future to allow the gorillas to bond.
Audra Meinelt, curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Congo Expedition region, expressed her excitement about the new arrival. “For months, our care team has been busy preparing for the baby’s arrival, and we are thrilled that the time has finally come to welcome this important new addition. With tiny hands and beautiful big brown eyes that melt our hearts, this baby is absolutely precious—in regard to both the cuteness factor and what the baby represents for this species’ future. We are proud of the dedication of our care teams who diligently work to provide the gorillas with top quality care and wellbeing while continuing the legacy of the Columbus Zoo’s renowned gorilla program.”
Sue, born at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 2004, arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2014. Ktembe, born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 1997, joined the Columbus Zoo from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in 2017. Their pairing was recommended by the Species Survival Plan, a program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to maintain genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species in professional care.
The birth of this baby gorilla marks the 35th gorilla born at the Columbus Zoo since 1956, when Colo, the first gorilla born in professional care, made history at the same zoo. Colo lived to be 60 years old, the oldest gorilla in a zoo at that time, and her legacy continues to impact the future of western lowland gorillas.
Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered by the International Union For Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Habitat loss and deforestation have historically been the primary causes of declining populations of Africa’s great apes. However, experts now agree that the illegal commercial bushmeat trade has surpassed habitat loss as the primary threat to ape populations, particularly for western lowland gorillas.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a proud supporter of several gorilla conservation projects in Central Africa, from research to rescue and rehabilitation missions. In 1991, the zoo founded Partners In Conservation, a grassroots effort to protect African wildlife through humanitarian projects. Over the last 30 years, this initiative has supported more than 60 projects focused in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition to its world-class gorilla breeding program, the Columbus Zoo has been recognized internationally for its successful gorilla fostering program. The zoo has been known for over 30 years for its care of gorillas in social groups, including expanding social groups through the placement of young gorillas with foster mothers when their biological mothers were unable to care for them. Over the years, nine gorillas born at the Columbus Zoo have been raised through this fostering program, and seven others have been sent from other zoos to receive care.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide. The zoo complex is a recreational and educational destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and the 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The zoo also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. As a wildlife conservation organization, the Columbus Zoo supports conservation and research projects locally and worldwide.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, conservation initiatives, events, and more, follow the zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, and visit ColumbusZoo.org.
Source: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
