Detroit Zoo reveals gender of baby gorilla, announces contest to select name

It’s a girl!

The Detroit Zoo announced Monday morning that the baby gorilla born on Aug. 8 — the first in the zoo’s 96-year history — is female and continuing to thrive under the care of her mother, 26-year-old Bandia.

Here’s where the metro Detroit community comes in — the baby gorilla needs a name, and the public can vote on it.

The name finalists are as follows:

• Usala — This name comes from the conservation corridor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also means “forest” in Kikumu language.
• Amateka — This name means “history” in Kinyarwanda language.
• Mbere — This name means “first” in Kinyarwanda language.
• Lobéké — This name comes from the national park in Cameroon, which is home to the highest density of western lowland gorillas in the world.
• Motema — This name means “heart” in Lingala language.

Visit detroitzoo.org to cast your vote. Voting will remain open through Monday, Sept. 9. Members of the public may vote as many times as they would like, with a $10 minimum donation per vote. The winning name will be determined through the highest dollar amount received. Proceeds from all donations in the naming contest will benefit the zoo’s Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program.

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“This has been an incredibly fun and exciting time for our entire animal care team,” said Mike Murray, vice president of life sciences for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). “Bandia is doing an amazing job as a first-time mom; the love, care and dedication she has for her baby is just remarkable to see. We’re continuing to closely monitor her and the baby, and so far, everything has gone according to plan. We’re really looking forward to having this baby grow up and thrive here at the Zoo.”

Since her birth, the baby has been thriving under the attentive care of Bandia, father Mshindi and the zoo’s animal care team. The baby’s sex was determined during a visual exam after mom and baby had ample time to bond and become comfortable in the habitat.

Detroit Zoo communications manager Sarah Culton said there won’t be any changes to the baby’s care as a result of knowing her gender.

“Right now,” Culton said, “care is being provided by Bandia, who is proving to be an attentive and protective mother. The birth is significant to the Detroit Zoo as it is the first time a baby gorilla has been born in our 96-year history. We know this baby girl will grow up to be a fantastic ambassador for her species, the critically endangered western lowland gorilla, shining a light on gorilla conservation needs.

“We are so excited about this news that we invited the public to be a part of this amazing moment in Detroit Zoo history with the naming contest. Not only will the contest give this bundle of joy a name, but it will also support the conservation of gorillas in the wild. So, pick your favorite name and cast a vote! No matter which name is the winner, we know this baby has a bright, healthy future ahead of her.”

Western lowland gorillas area critically endangered in the wild, and the zoo says it continues to support a number of conservation partnerships and programs that keep gorillas from going extinct.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Zoo reveals gender of baby gorilla, announces contest to select name