The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating a significant milestone with the birth of a critically endangered western lowland gorilla. The newborn arrived in the early hours of Saturday, June 29, 2024, to first-time mother Sue and experienced father Ktembe. This birth marks a crucial step in the conservation efforts for this endangered species.
Sue, who has been at the Columbus Zoo since 2014, was born at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo in 2004. Ktembe, born at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 2017, joined the Columbus Zoo a few years after Sue. Their pairing was recommended by the Species Survival Plan, a program by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums designed to maintain the genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species.
The zoo’s expert Animal Care team has been closely monitoring the new mother and her baby. Sue has shown exceptional maternal instincts, nuzzling and cradling her newborn with great care. To ensure that Sue and her baby have ample time to bond without interruptions, the care team has decided to wait before determining the baby’s sex.
The Columbus Zoo shared heartwarming images of Sue snuggling with her baby, capturing the tiny hands and big brown eyes that have already melted many hearts. Audra Meinelt, curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Congo Expedition region, expressed her joy, stating, “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.”
The zoo’s gorilla troop, including Ktembe and adult females Nia and Cassie, have been giving Sue and her baby the space they need. However, Jamani, the 4-year-old child of Ktembe and Cassie, has shown curiosity and eagerness to play with her new half-sibling. The other members of the troop have gently corrected Jamani to ensure the newborn’s safety.
The indoor viewing habitat in the Zoo’s Congo Expedition region will remain closed for several days to provide the gorillas with more privacy. Starting Monday, July 8, guests will be invited to visit the newly-expanded gorilla family from 11 a.m. throughout the day. However, baby viewing is not guaranteed as the troop will have access to the indoor habitat and behind-the-scenes areas.
The Columbus Zoo has a rich history with gorillas, being home to Colo, the first gorilla born in a zoo in 1956. Colo lived to be 60 years old and passed away in 2017. In total, 35 gorillas have been born at the Columbus Zoo, making it a significant contributor to gorilla conservation.
While Sue has been bonding well with her new baby, this is not always the case. For instance, Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo recently welcomed a baby gorilla, but the newborn’s mother has not shown appropriate maternal behaviors. The care team there has been hand-rearing the newborn to ensure its survival.
The population of western lowland gorillas has declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. The species faces high levels of disease and has been targeted by hunters. Habitat loss and deforestation have historically been the primary causes for 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 Columbus Zoo founded Partners In Conservation (PIC), a grassroots effort to protect African wildlife through humanitarian projects. Over the last 30 years, PIC 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 is known for its successful gorilla fostering program. The zoo has been recognized internationally for the 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 continues to make a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the zoo complex 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. The zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national, and global impact, annually supporting 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: CBS News, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
