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, 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 ...