Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Editors note: a previous version of this blog incorrectly stated that western lowland gorillas live in the range where Mandinka is spoken. They do not. The information has been corrected below. Jamani, holding baby Oku is on the left. Olympia holding Kadre on the right. Photo:  Beth Keplinger/Woodland Park Zoo   With a little help from friends, Woodland Park Zoo’s western lowland baby gorillas, both males, have been officially named: Kadre (ka-DRAY) and Oku (OH-koo). Western lowland gorillas live in lowland tropical forests and swampy clearings in Central Africa. Kadre was born on May 18 to mom Jamani. The opportunity to name him was given to Woodland Park Zoo Board member Jill Walker and her husband, Scott Walker, as a small token of gratitude for their long-time, generous support of the zoo. “We’re so honored to have the privilege of naming the baby gorilla. Kadre, meaning ‘helper’ and ‘supporter’ in the Mandinka language, feels fittin...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Jamani is caring for Olympia's baby boy.  Olympia is caring for Jamani's baby boy. The birth and care of two western lowland gorillas at Woodland Park Zoo have been exciting and fluid with several twists and turns along the way. The newest twist: The newborns have been switched and each mother is caring for the other’s baby—intentionally. Jamani gave birth to a son on May 18 and Olympia delivered a son on May 24 via cesarean section, an extremely rare procedure on gorillas, due to complications that indicated a non-productive labor. With intentions of introducing Olympia’s son to her the following day, Jamani picked up the baby instead and stepped in to care for both babies while Olympia recovered from the procedure and remained nearby. Each gorilla baby now has a mama nursing and caring for them. All the adults and babies are doing well and are together as a family unit.  While Jamani pull...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Woodland Park Zoo Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo One of the two male gorilla infants recently born at Woodland Park Zoo is currently under round-the-clock human care and showing signs of improvement after receiving bottle feeding to help address dehydration and increase his weight. The mom of the baby western lowland gorilla is Jamani, who gave birth to her son on May 18. The other infant gorilla was born on May 24 to Olympia via cesarean section due to complications that indicated a non-productive labor. It marked Woodland Park Zoo’s first gorilla born via C-section in its 126-year history. C-sections on gorillas are extremely rare, with under a dozen performed worldwide. The day after the C-section on Olympia, her baby was introduced to her. While she showed interest, Jamani picked up the baby instead and was caring for the two babies with Olympia nearby in the same family troop. “Jamani has been pulling double duty caring for two babies. Whi...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Jamani is caring for  two western lowland gorilla infants—hers and Olympia’s —while Olympia heals from her C-section . Sharing new photos of Woodland Park Zoo mom Jamani caring for the two western lowland gorilla infants—hers and Olympia’s—both boys. Neither baby has been named yet. Jamani is nursing both babies and everyone seems to be doing well! Olympia underwent an emergency C-section on May 24 to deliver her baby, and Jamani gave birth on May 18. The zoo is hoping to unite Olympia and her baby soon and are monitoring behaviors and the health of the babies and mothers to ensure the gorilla care team can help with that process safely and with respect to the dynamics of the gorilla troop.  Thank you for your understanding while we allow for some quiet time for this new family group! For now Olympia continues to show good signs of healing, Jamani is nursing both babies and the whole troop ...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Welcome to the world, precious one!  Jamani gently holds her newborn close. The community has been bubbling with excitement and anticipation over pregnancy news shared earlier this year of western lowland gorillas, Olympia and Jamani (jah-MAW-nee), due to give birth just days apart at Woodland Park Zoo. The zoo is thrilled to announce the first baby has arrived! Jamani gave birth on May 18 at 5:50 a.m. (PDT) after a gestation period of eight and a half months. The sex of the baby has not yet been determined. This is the second baby for Jamani. Nadaya (nuh-DIE-yuh) is the first-time dad of the newborn and Olympia’s baby, which is due any day. According to Martin Ramirez, Curator of Mammalogy at Woodland Park Zoo, the first 72 hours of life are the most critical for a newborn gorilla. “We’re closely observing for signs that the infant is grasping strongly to Jamani with feet and hands, mom is soft...

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher. Communications Editor’s Note: Big shout-outs of gratitude and appreciation to members of Woodland Park Zoo’s extraordinary, expert gorilla care team for answering all our questions, including Stephanie, Judy, Traci, Ashley and Tesh! Jamani and Olympia are both expecting babies in May! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo We recently shared with you that two of Woodland Park Zoo’s gorillas are pregnant and due to give birth five days apart this spring! The pregnant gorillas are Olympia, due May 19, and Jamani, due May 24. The father-to-be for both babies is Nadaya. The gestation period for gorillas is nearly nine months—only about two weeks shy of human gestation. This will be the second offspring for both pregnant gorillas. Before arriving at Woodland Park Zoo in 2022, Olympia, 29, and Jamani, 26, lived together at North Carolina Zoo. Each gave birth to a son just weeks apart in 2012 and successfully raised them together. Flashback: Jamani and Oly...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Jamani (left) and Olympia (right) are both expecting babies this May! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is proud to announce that two western lowland gorillas are expecting babies in May—and five days apart! The pregnant gorillas are Olympia, due May 19, and Jamani, due May 24. The father-to-be for both babies is Nadaya. The gestation period for gorillas is eight to nine months. This will be the second offspring for both pregnant gorillas. Before arriving at Woodland Park Zoo in 2022, Olympia, 29, and Jamani, 26, lived together at North Carolina Zoo. Each gave birth to a son just weeks apart in 2012 and successfully raised them together. Handsome silverback, Nadaya! These babies will mark his first foray into fatherhood —and we think he's going to be a great Dad! Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo For Nadaya, the silverback of the family group, the offspring will be his first. Adult male gorillas ar...

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications Handsome Nadaya! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Do you know silverback gorilla Nadaya and the three females—Jamani, Jumoke and Olympia—that make up his western lowland gorilla family? If you don’t, you should! They may not be as active as Kwame and his family because they don’t have youngsters running around (at least not yet ... more on that later) but the animal keepers tell us this group is one of the most cohesive gorilla groups they’ve ever known, in part because all of them “click” and genuinely seem to like being with each other. Nadaya, who is 24 years old, is a wonderful silverback—a relaxed, calm and mature leader. He is responsible for maintaining a calm and secure atmosphere for his group of females and restoring peace and balance if and when there should be any disagreements between them. He doesn’t like to be without his females for any length of time and seems genuinely determined to be a steady and protective pr...