Photo credit: Zoo New England
It’s another girl for western lowland gorillas Kiki and Kitombe!
The baby, born November 3 inside Franklin Park Zoo’s Tropical Forest, received her first well-baby examination by the Zoo’s veterinary staff on Wednesday morning at which time her gender was confirmed. This is the third girl for Kiki and Kitombe (Kit), who are also parents to Kira, age 11, and Kimani, age 6.
During the examination, the baby was separated from her mother so the veterinary staff could weigh her and draw blood. The baby weighs 6.6 pounds and measures 18 inches long.
“The examination went very well. The baby is very alert and appears healthy and strong,” said Dr. Eric Baitchman, Zoo New England Director of Veterinary Services. “While we will continue to closely monitor the baby’s development, we are happy with her progress so far. Kiki is an excellent mother with a lot of experience and she is doing everything a gorilla mother should.”
Now that the gender is confirmed, the baby needs a name and the public is invited to help. Beginning Friday, December 17 guests will be able to submit name entries at a ballot box that will be set up inside the Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo. Name submissions will be accepted through February 25, 2011, and the winning baby gorilla name will be decided in a very special public presentation on February 26, 2011. The person who submits the winning name will receive a family membership to the Zoo as well as a behind-the-scenes tour for up to six people.
Franklin Park Zoo is home to eight western lowland gorillas, including the baby, and all reside inside the Tropical Forest. ZNE is an active participant in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are designed to maintain genetically diverse and demographically stable captive populations of species. Kiki’s pregnancy was the result of a recommended breeding by the SSP.
Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild. Western gorillas, found in the countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola, and Central African Republic, are divided into the Cross River and western lowland subspecies. Both are considered critically endangered. Threats to gorillas vary geographically and western gorillas are primarily threatened by disease and the bushmeat trade.For more things to do in Boston with kids, check out our Boston event calendar, which is always updated!
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