Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

SEATTLE - A western lowland gorilla was born Saturday about 3:30 a.m. (PST) at Woodland Park Zoo. The newborn represents the twelfth successful gorilla birth for the zoo and the third offspring between 37-year-old Amanda and the father, 28-year-old Vip. The infant is a female.

Infant gorilla and mother

The infant and mother are indoors off public exhibit while they remain under round-the-clock observation. “The first 72 hours are the most critical for a newborn gorilla,” explained the zoo’s Interim Associate Veterinarian of Animal Health, Dr. John Ochsenreiter. “We need to ensure that mom and her infant are bonding, the infant is nursing properly and she is receiving adequate milk. We want to provide Amanda and her newborn the best chance at a healthy start.”

According to gorilla keeper staff, Amanda is showing excellent maternal care. “She’s holding the infant close and keeping her warm, fed and clean, all expected behaviors of a healthy mother gorilla,” said General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes. “And the infant is gripping her mother firmly, nursing and vocalizing, all signs of being healthy. There is a very strong maternal-infant bond.” All the gorillas in the group are very interested in the newborn, especially Amanda and Vip’s other two daughters, 9-year-old Ngozi and 5-year-old Calaya.

The gorilla birth is significant for the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) because Amanda is a “founder” animal, meaning she was born in the wild, and Vip has only two other relatives outside of Woodland Park Zoo. These combined factors make the baby gorilla’s genes particularly valuable to the zoo population in North America.

The group’s access outside into their exhibit and visitor viewing of mother and baby will be dependent on outdoor temperatures. Meanwhile, images and video will soon be available on the zoo’s website at www.zoo.org under “Species Spotlight” and on YouTube.

The Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) is among 33 SSPs that Woodland Park Zoo participates in, including the Asian elephant, Aruba Island rattlesnake, red-crowned crane and orangutan. Under the auspices of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the cooperative breeding programs work to ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability in North American zoos and aquariums. Additionally, SSPs involve a variety of other collaborative conservation activities such as research, public education, reintroduction and field projects. AZA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation, with more than 210 zoos and aquariums as members

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.