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On Thursday, the Detroit Zoo celebrated a historic moment with the birth of a baby gorilla, marking the first time in its 96-year existence that such an event has occurred. The newborn gorilla’s name and sex are yet to be determined.
Located in the suburban area of Royal Oak, Michigan, the zoo is buzzing with excitement over this new addition. Tami Brightrall, the zoo’s associate curator of mammals, noted the mother, named Bandia, experienced a smooth pregnancy, which was crucial as this was her first childbirth.
The baby joins a group of four other gorillas at the zoo, including its mother Bandia and father Mshindi, who all arrived at the zoo a year earlier. Preparations for the new arrival were extensive, with zoo staff practicing with a stuffed gorilla to teach the troop appropriate caregiving behaviors, such as gentle touching and how to pick and carry the infant.
Visitors will need to wait a little longer to see the new gorilla family, as the viewing area will remain closed until the animal care team is confident that Bandia and her baby have sufficiently bonded and adjusted to their surroundings, according to Melissa Thueme, a mammal supervisor at the zoo.