Detroit Zoo welcomes its first-ever baby gorilla

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) -- There's a new addition at the Detroit Zoo: a critically endangered western lowland gorilla — the first ever born at the zoo.

The Zoo says 26-year-old Bandia, a first-time mother, gave birth in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 8, and the Zoo is pleased to report that mom and baby, along with the father, 36-year-old Mshindi, are all doing very well.

"We have never had a baby gorilla at the Detroit Zoo in 96 years, so this is a super exciting addition for us," Detroit Zoo Mammal supervisor Melissa Theume told WWJ Newsradio 950 Beth Fisher.

"Gorillas are critically endangered, so this is a really important achievement for their statue," she said. "Gorilla babies are important every single time they're born in a zoo, and they are ambassadors for their wild counterparts that are in danger."

Theume said the new baby doesn't have a name just yet.

"We still haven't been able to get a really good look to find out if the baby is male or female," Theume explained. "So, that would factor into wanting to choose a name. Keepers are writing down ideas."

The new gorilla is now the fifth to call the Zoo home , joining the troop with mother Bandia and father Mshindi, along with 20-year-old Tulivu and 11-year-old Nayembi – who all arrived at the Detroit Zoo in August 2023.

Tami Brightrall, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) said Bandia had "a very smooth pregnancy."

"Throughout her eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy, she continued to participate in routine ultrasounds using positive reinforcement training methods, which allowed our team to check on the baby along the way and ensure everything was going well," she said.

DZS mammal and primate teams, along with veterinary staff, have been working for months to not only prepare Bandia for motherhood, but to also make sure the rest of the troop was ready for the baby’s arrival.

“Animal care staff actually carried a stuffed gorilla around the habitat while interacting with the troop to properly demonstrate how to carry a baby,” Brightrall said. “Our teams also taught the gorillas how to gently touch the stuffed animal, pick it up off the ground and bring it to a member of the team over at the mesh barrier.”

Theume told Fisher that Bandia and her little one are not being kept separate from the rest of the troop, and in fact gave birth with the rest of the gorillas around her. "Everybody was very respectful of her space, but was curious and looking at her," she said. "Gorillas are supposed to give birth in a group environment like that, so she has done this with her troop members, as one big family."

Bandia and her baby will be closely monitored in the coming days and weeks. Animal care staff will carefully be watching for maternal and nursing behaviors while tracking milestones such as eye movements, sound recognition and object grasping along the way. The other gorillas will continue to be observed as well to see how they behave and react to the addition of the baby to their troop.

As with all the animals who call the Detroit Zoo home, Bandia and her baby will soon have the option to come and go as they please throughout the 4-acre Great Apes of Harambee habitat – meaning they can eventually be viewed either inside the great apes building or outside in their spacious yard. It is important to note, however, that it might be a while before guests are able to actually view the gorillas.

“The time we open the habitat for guests to see the gorillas, including the baby, all depends on Bandia’s behavior and needs, especially as a first-time mom,” said Thueme. “We want to keep things calm and quiet for Bandia, the baby and the rest of the troop to provide them time to settle in, and the area will reopen once the animal care team determines mom and baby have had enough time to bond and become comfortable in their habitat.”

The DZS noted that it is involved in a number of partnerships and programs that all have a common goal of helping gorillas thrive and saving them from extinction, including:

The Great Ape Heart Project : Based at the Detroit Zoo, this program addresses a critical need within the zoo community to investigate and understand cardiovascular disease (CVD or heart disease) in great apes, including gorillas.

Gorillas on the Line : A partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program to raise money from recycled cell phones and small electronics. Proceeds from this program directly support gorilla conservation initiatives in Africa.

The Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center : A nonprofit organization located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The DZS provides financial support to help introduce orphaned eastern lowland gorillas into the wild.

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund : This organization uses an integrated approach to collaborate closely with local governments, communities and partners worldwide, including the DZS. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to conserving, protecting and studying gorillas and their habitats in Africa.