A young gorilla named Denny at the San Diego Zoo broke the enclosure glass during a playful charge, causing a deep crack and prompting a temporary closure of the exhibit. The incident highlights natural adolescent behaviors in gorillas, which can be extremely strong, and raises concerns about safety and animal behavior. Denny, born at the zoo, is part of ongoing conservation efforts for critically endangered gorillas.
A 2-year-old female western lowland gorilla named Eyare was killed at the Calgary Zoo due to a human error when a caretaker mistakenly activated the wrong door, causing fatal injuries. The zoo is implementing corrective measures, including training gorillas to maintain a safe distance from doors and improving staff training. The responsible caretaker has been removed from duty and will undergo additional training. Eyare's death has deeply affected the community, and the zoo is committed to preventing similar incidents in the future.
A viral video shows two Texas zookeepers calmly escaping from an exhibit with a silverback gorilla at the Fort Worth Zoo, as the ape unexpectedly entered their enclosure. The incident, which occurred in October 2023, garnered over 25 million views on TikTok. Zoo visitors can be heard panicking and praying for the employees' safety, but thankfully, there was no physical contact between the keepers and the gorilla. The zoo attributed the incident to "keeper error" and praised the keepers' knowledge and expertise in safely navigating the situation.
A baby gorilla named Jameela was delivered via emergency C-section at Fort Worth Zoo due to her mother's preeclampsia, weighing just 3 pounds and 1 ounce. Despite her mother's recovery, Jameela's mother showed no interest in caring for her, leading zookeepers to seek a surrogate in another gorilla named Gracie. The zoo's team is providing round-the-clock care for Jameela, who is now growing and thriving, with hopes that Gracie will serve as a surrogate for the baby gorilla.
A baby gorilla named Jameela was born via rare emergency C-section at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas after her mother, Sekani, showed signs of pre-eclampsia. Human doctors and zookeepers worked together to save the lives of both mother and baby, with the baby gorilla requiring immediate intervention and round-the-clock care. Despite Sekani's struggles to bond with her newborn, zoo experts are hopeful that another female gorilla, Gracie, may become a surrogate mother. The birth has delighted animal lovers and highlighted the similarities between gorilla and human pregnancies and births.
A baby gorilla named Kaius was saved by a zookeeper in Australia after his father took him from his mother. The zookeeper, Chad Staples, cared for Kaius from birth, even sleeping with him on his chest to provide comfort. After a difficult journey, Kaius has now found an adoptive mother, G-Anne, a 42-year-old female gorilla. The pair will spend time together before Kaius makes his public debut at the zoo. Staples hopes to maintain a bond with Kaius throughout his life.
Staff at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio were surprised when a gorilla they believed to be male for four years gave birth. Sully, who has been a resident since 2019, was discovered with her healthy baby. The zookeepers had never examined Sully due to her good health, leading to the mix-up. Gorillas do not typically show signs of pregnancy, and it is difficult to determine the sex of younger gorillas. The zoo will conduct DNA tests to determine the father, but they are confident that the new arrival is a girl. This birth is important for the conservation of the critically endangered species.
Koga, a 35-year-old western lowland gorilla at Buffalo Zoo, underwent a health examination by a team of veterinarians to check his heart, teeth, eyes, joints, and muscles. The 400-pound primate was put under anesthesia for the inspection. Koga was found to be in good health after the examination. The western lowland gorilla is on the older and larger side of the average ape.