This week at the Detroit Zoo, a major event took place: a gorilla baby was born.
As reported in a press release from the Oakland County zoo, 26-year-old female gorilla Bandiya gave birth early Thursday morning.
The baby becomes the fifth member of the western lowland gorilla group at the zoo, along with Bandiya, her father Mshindi, 20-year-old TuliVu, and 11-year-old NayeMb. The last four gorillas arrived at the zoo in August 2023.
Currently, the zoo staff have not yet named the new gorilla.
The statement mentions that zoo workers and veterinarians prepared Bandiya and the other gorillas for the baby's arrival during her pregnancy by carrying a gorilla model.
According to staff, they trained the gorillas to touch the model, lift it, and bring it to a staff member behind the mesh barrier near the enclosure, as well as trained them on how to properly lift it.
They also ensured that Bandiya had access to regular ultrasound examinations during her 8.5-month pregnancy, reported Tammi Brightall, assistant curator for mammal operations at the Detroit Zoo.
"Bandiya's pregnancy went very smoothly, which is very important for the new mom," she said.
The zoo staff will observe Bandiya’s maternal behavior, the behavior of other gorillas, and will monitor the stages of the baby’s development over the next few weeks, the statement says.
Soon, Bandiya and her baby will be able to move independently within the 4-acre Hombezi ape habitat and exit it. Melissa Theume, mammal keeper at the Detroit Zoo, stated in the press release that visitors will have to wait until zoo staff monitor the gorilla group.
"The timing of opening the habitat to visitors so they can see the gorillas, including the baby, depends on Bandiya's behavior and needs, especially as a new mother," she said. "We want Bandiya, the baby, and the other gorillas to be in peace and quiet. They need time to settle in, and the area will be reopened as soon as the animal care team determines that mother and baby have had enough time to bond and feel comfortable in their environment."
Visitors will have to wait a while for the gorillas to get accustomed to the new baby, zoo representatives said.
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Detroit Zoo's gorillas are among 361,900 western lowland gorillas known worldwide. In American zoos, as well as in the Detroit Zoo, only western lowland gorillas are housed.
According to the Detroit Zoo website, the species of native African animals is endangered. Each mammal has coarse hair and a large, muscular body that can grow to 4-6 feet tall. They primarily feed on leaves, grass stems, shrubs, and lianas.
The average lifespan ranges from 32 years for males to 39 years for females.
The gorilla baby is not the only addition to the zoo's population, which totals over 2,000 animals. Official representatives announced that on July 28, the zoo welcomed crowned lemur Lenny, sea otter Kit, three new kangaroos, and a platypus named Kreminy.
The pair of red panda twins was also born at the zoo on June 17, as zoo staff announced on Facebook. The new red pandas are still in isolation outside the zoo while their mother cares for her young.
