The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington, is celebrating the birth of a very special new baby. An Endangered baby Gorilla was born, and it's the cutest little thing!
On July 1, 2024, the Woodland Park Zoo shared an update with fans who were on baby Gorilla watch with the best news, and some cute photos. Take a look!
The Woodland Zoo took to Instagram to share the news that the baby they'd been on watch for was born.
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"Hello, little one! Following a flurry of excitement around our pregnant Gorilla, Woodland Park Zoo is proud to announce that Akenji gave birth on June 28, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. (PT) to her first baby," the zoo shared. "
The zoo shared that Akenji gave birth to a baby boy! "He weighs 4.4 pounds, is healthy, has a strong grip and a great appetite," the zoo added.
Along with the announcement, the zoo shared a really cute photo of the newborn Gorilla. And some more details on how Akenji was doing after birth.
"The zoo’s Gorilla and animal health staff closely observed the birth and post-birth behaviors in the off-view bedrooms. Unfortunately, Akenji did not show appropriate maternal behaviors," the zoo shared.
The Zoo Had to Intervene After the Baby Gorilla Was Born
"Within an hour after delivery, the animal care team intervened for the baby’s safety and well-being."
Over the weekend, the zoo observed Akenji and her newborn baby, stepping in to help where needed. The zoo provided "round-the-clock care for the newborn such as bottle-feeding human infant formula, providing comfort and keeping him warm."
The zoo made sure to keep the baby "within proximity in a warn betting of hay to allow Akenji short visits and opportunities to bond or within line of sight so she could see, hear and smell him."
“Although we have been encouraging maternal behaviors, Akenji still hasn’t shown any promising signs of interest to bond with her baby. Because she demonstrated capable maternal behaviors throughout her training program, we’re disappointed and a little surprised those instincts haven’t kicked in,” said Rachel Vass, Interim Animal Care Manager at Woodland Park Zoo.
“As we continue to hand-rear her baby for the short term, the positive news is that he remains healthy, he has a great appetite and strong grip, and he is getting bigger every day.”
Western Lowland Gorillas Are 'Critically Endangered'
Any new birth of a Western Lowland Gorilla, like the baby boy born at Woodland Park Zoo, is a big win for the species.
According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ), Western Lowland Gorillas are "critically endangered" due to "a population reduction of more than 80% over three generations."
The organization notes that the population decrease is tied to "poaching, disease, and habitat loss."
Due to their listing as critically endangered, Gorillas are protected. "All Gorillas are protected by national and international laws throughout their geographic range," the IUCN notes.
However, the reality is that enforcing these rules is "generally weak," which makes any new numbers a really big deal, and conservation is a very important component.
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