COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is welcoming the birth of a Western Lowland Gorilla!
CMZoo said the brand-new gorilla was born early Monday morning.
The baby and its mother, 32-year-old Asha, reportedly seemed to be going well, and CMZoo said the baby has been hitting milestones such as nursing and clinging to Asha. The baby’s father, Goma, is also showing interest in his newborn.
“Asha is sitting and lying down with the baby and gently patting its back, which is really adorable,” Ashton Asbury, Primate World animal keeper, says. “The baby hangs onto Asha while she’s moving around and she supports it with one hand. They’re bonding really well, and we have seen her licking the baby’s head and grooming it.”
CMZoo said it has been almost 13 years since a gorilla has been born at the zoo, and this is Asha’s third baby and Goma’s first.
As of Monday, the sex and weight of the baby have not been determined, but CMZoo said keepers are allowing Asha to take the lead in caring for the baby as long as they seem to continue doing well.
CMZoo says Western Lowland Gorillas are critically endangered, and their numbers are still continuing to decline. Zoo visitors can recycle small electronic devices and cell phones to help preserve wild gorilla habitats at Primate World.
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