Post by Gigi Allianic, Communications
Woodland Park Zoo is overjoyed to share the heartwarming news about baby boy gorilla Abeo (ah-BAY-oh), who was born at the zoo in June. To ensure his long-term benefits of growing as a gorilla, the zoo made a critical decision and moved him last month to Louisville Zoo in Kentucky where he could be socialized with a foster gorilla mom and multigenerational family of gorillas.
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| Abeo with Kewli, Photo by Kyle Shepherd/Louisville Zoo |
Today, Abeo and his foster mom, Kweli (kway-lee), made their public debut together in Louisville Zoo’s award-winning Gorilla Forest. Kweli, 40 years old, was selected due to her successful experience fostering Kindi, Louisville Zoo’s now 8-year-old female gorilla, who was orphaned shortly after birth.
Abeo was born June 28 at Woodland Park Zoo to Akenji, a first-time mom, and dad Kwame. Because Akenji hadn’t shown any interest in caring for her newborn, Abeo was placed under round-the-clock care; moreover, progress wasn’t fast enough to introduce him to a foster mom at the zoo so, for his well-being, Abeo was moved to a new home.
Abeo was born June 28 at Woodland Park Zoo to Akenji, a first-time mom, and dad Kwame. Because Akenji hadn’t shown any interest in caring for her newborn, Abeo was placed under round-the-clock care; moreover, progress wasn’t fast enough to introduce him to a foster mom at the zoo so, for his well-being, Abeo was moved to a new home.
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| Abeo with Kewli, Photo courtesy of Louisville Zoo |
“Kweli has been an exemplary foster mom, first with Kindi and now with Abeo,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. “We are incredibly proud of Kweli’s care and her attentiveness. Like our visitors, we are looking forward to watching Abeo grow and thrive with the family troop at Gorilla Forest.”
“All of us at Woodland Park Zoo are celebrating that baby Abeo is now in the arms of gorilla Kweli. This is how it should be for a baby gorilla—in the direct care of a gorilla and socialized with a family of gorillas,” said Woodland Park Zoo Interim Senior Director of Animal Care Martin Ramirez. “Our zoo family is so grateful to Louisville Zoo and their dedicated gorilla experts. All the way from the Pacific Northwest, we and our community will continue to enjoy watching Abeo grow to be a confident and secure gorilla.”
For more than a month, Louisville Zoo’s Gorilla Forest team has provided round-the-clock care for Abeo, including feeding and socializing him using vocal and behavioral cues similar to those of a gorilla mother. After meeting key milestones, including responding to behavioral cues and navigating the habitat, Abeo was introduced to Kweli through closely monitored bonding.
Over the coming weeks, Abeo and Kweli will be integrated with the rest of the gorilla troop that includes silverback Casey (42 years old), and adult females Paki (35 years old) and Patty (11 years old), and sub-adult female Kindi (8 years old). The group will rotate on exhibit with bachelor gorillas Bengati, Jelani, Cecil and Kicho.
“All of us at Woodland Park Zoo are celebrating that baby Abeo is now in the arms of gorilla Kweli. This is how it should be for a baby gorilla—in the direct care of a gorilla and socialized with a family of gorillas,” said Woodland Park Zoo Interim Senior Director of Animal Care Martin Ramirez. “Our zoo family is so grateful to Louisville Zoo and their dedicated gorilla experts. All the way from the Pacific Northwest, we and our community will continue to enjoy watching Abeo grow to be a confident and secure gorilla.”
For more than a month, Louisville Zoo’s Gorilla Forest team has provided round-the-clock care for Abeo, including feeding and socializing him using vocal and behavioral cues similar to those of a gorilla mother. After meeting key milestones, including responding to behavioral cues and navigating the habitat, Abeo was introduced to Kweli through closely monitored bonding.
Over the coming weeks, Abeo and Kweli will be integrated with the rest of the gorilla troop that includes silverback Casey (42 years old), and adult females Paki (35 years old) and Patty (11 years old), and sub-adult female Kindi (8 years old). The group will rotate on exhibit with bachelor gorillas Bengati, Jelani, Cecil and Kicho.
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| Abeo at Woodland Park Zoo, Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
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