Woodland Park Zoo Blog

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 That face! Welcome to the world, little one! Photo by Rachel Vass/Woodland Park Zoo Following a nine-month gestation period, the release of ultrasound images, a birth watch that began two weeks ago, and a flurry of excitement around its pregnant gorilla, Woodland Park Zoo is proud to announce that Akenji gave birth on June 28, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. (PT) to her first baby…and it’s a boy! The zoo’s gorilla and animal health staff closely observed the birth and post-birth behaviors in the off-view bedrooms. Unfortunately, Akenji did not show appropriate maternal behaviors despite the months-long maternal skills training the gorilla care team provided. Within an hour after delivery, the animal care team intervened for the baby’s safety and well-being. A neonatal exam was performed to ensure the yet-to-be-named infant was healthy. “The average weight for a gorilla at birth is 4 pounds and we’re pleased to report our new boy weighs 4.4 pounds. His vital s...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications We have some wonderful news to share! Western lowland gorilla Nadiri and her new baby girl are now together bonding and the baby is thriving. The newborn is the second baby for Nadiri—who marks her own 25th birthday today—and the first between Nadiri and dad, 21-year-old Kwame. The newborn gorilla—the 15th gorilla born at our zoo—doesn't have a name yet, but that is coming soon. Nadiri's new daughter, at only a few days old. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Nadiri  gave birth to her second daughter two weeks ago,  on January 29th, but didn’t immediately pick her up to nurse or keep her warm. So shortly after birth, gorilla and veterinary staff stepped in to provide round-the-clock care for the baby including bottle feeding her human infant formula, keeping her warm and providing her with short visits with her mother. Nadiri holds her baby close to her and the two are now together 24/7. Photo: Woodland Park Zoo  “During...

Posted by Elizabeth Bacher, Communications with Judy Sievert, Gorilla Keeper Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo We’re so excited to share another update with you on western lowland gorilla Uzumma and her baby who was born just a little more than three weeks ago on March 4 . This past week has been an exciting time for our gorilla family with milestones big and small. But even the smallest of actions, like Kwame tenderly touching his son’s foot for the first time, makes our hearts soar… and Uzumma continues to settle into motherhood like a pro. Gorilla keeper Judy Sievert tells us that Uzumma is one of the most nurturing and attentive gorilla mothers we have ever seen at Woodland Park Zoo. This comes as no surprise to us as her mom, Amanda, was an exceptional mother to her. Uzumma’s nurturing behavior is not only amazing for her baby, but also a wonderful example for a couple of the other females in the group who one day might be mamas too. Since Uzumma ...

Posted by: Ric Brewer, Communications That’s not an alien poking a snaky arm out of wallaroo Fergie’s pouch, but the naked tail of her young joey. Young wallaroos, a type of small kangaroo from Australia, are born weighing less than a gram and roughly the size of a bean. The blind, hairless babies make the long trek after birth into the mother’s pouch where they suckle and develop over several months. Fergie’s joey, born September 14th, currently weighs somewhere in the range of 500-1,000 grams and at a little over 6 months old, is only just beginning to be seen sticking arms, legs or, in this case, its tail, outside mom’s pouch. By around 7 months, the joey will emerge from the pouched, fully furred but remaining close to mom for another 3-4 months—about late June or early July for this joey. The gender of the joey isn't yet known. Fergie is on exhibit in our Australasia exhibit. The best chance to get a glimpse of the joey is when Fergie is cleaning her pouch, even though zoo vis...