Kids (and parents) across Seattle have looked forward to meeting the new baby gorilla born at Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) in late June. But on Monday, August 12, the zoo announced it must move the new infant to another zoo to ensure that he is raised in a gorilla family.
On August 20, the Zoo announced that the baby gorilla had arrived safely at his new home, Louisville Zoo, where he will be socialized with a foster mom and gorilla family.
As a send-off gift and after more than a month of intensive care, WPZ’s gorilla care team finally gave the little primate his name—Abeo (ah-beh-OH), which means “bringer of happiness” in West African Yoruba language.
Zoo officials said all precautionary measures were taken for Abeo’s trip east to reduce his health exposure and ensure his safe arrival. A Woodland Park Zoo gorilla caretaker and veterinarian accompanied him during transit straight through to Louisville and will stay as long as necessary to help ease his transition to his new home.
While the move may be sad news for zoo visitors hoping to catch a glimpse, zoo officials say the move is very important for the baby’s health. Here’s more from WZP to help kids understand the change:
Why is it important to move the baby?
It’s critical that a baby gorilla is raised by gorillas and grows up as a gorilla. Since it’s birth, zoo staff have been attending to the baby
Abeo was born June 28 at the Zoo to first-time western mountain gorillas Akenji (mom) and Kwame (dad). Because Akenji hadn’t shown any interest in caring for her baby, human intervention was necessary and the gorilla staff provided 24/7 care for the baby starting shortly after he was born. Zoo staff worked hard to help Akenji bond with her baby, but the new mom continued to show no interest.
While not common in nature, WPZ zoo officials said, a failure of mother-infant bonding does occur and often results in the death of the infant. In zoos, this behavior is often an individual trait that usually occurs with first-time mothers. However, most of the gorilla infants born in zoos are mother-reared.
The Zoo decided to move the little guy to another zoo so he could be raised by a surrogate gorilla mom and socialize with a multigenerational family of gorillas. WPZ tried training three experienced gorilla moms as potential surrogates, but their progress was not fast enough.
What happens next?
The Zoo worked with the Gorilla Species Survival Plan to set up the Kentucky move for Abeo. The organization maintains a list of potential surrogates across the country for situations like the one that occurred at WPZ. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos and aquariums to help ensure healthy, self-sustaining populations of threatened and endangered species.
“We include this option in our birth management plan in case it becomes necessary,” said Martin Ramirez, Interim Senior Director of Animal Care at Woodland Park Zoo.
Why is it important for the baby to have a gorilla mom?
Gorillas are intelligent animals that live in complex social groups. Like humans, constantly being with a mom is natural for an infant gorilla. This gives the infant confidence and a sense of security. These are critical characteristics for a gorilla to live a healthy, social life with multigenerational gorillas, which is the natural grouping for the species. In other words, Gorilla rearing needs to be gorilla-centric from the start.
Why does this have to happen now?
“The longer he’s cared for solely by humans, the more he is hindered from learning the complex social cues of gorillas and the higher the risk of becoming imprinted on humans,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez added that it’s imperative to socialize the infant with a surrogate mom and family of gorillas without further delay, even if that means relocating him across the country.
“While we hoped for a different outcome, this is the best decision for his long-term benefits and well-being,” said Ramirez. “As he continues to grow and reach important developmental milestones, this is a critical time in his life to be raised directly in the care of gorillas.”
Well wishes
As soon as the move was announced, messages of support started pouring into WPZ’s Animal Babies webpage.
“While it’s sad he won’t be staying in Seattle, it is absolutely wonderful and heartwarming that you are putting his needs first,” wrote one well-wisher. “Safe travels little man; I can’t wait to hear about you thriving in your new gorilla family.”
“This little gorilla has received the care that breeds feelings of safety and self-worth. His familiarity with gorilla sights, sounds, and smells and his experiences with the feel of hay and the breeze will help him transition to his new home. I have faith that he will become a magnificent silverback who knows how to be, in every way, a gorilla.”
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo
For kids who might feel disappointed that they won’t get to meet little Abeo (at least not in Seattle), WPZ officials remind visitors that 4-year-old gorilla toddlers Kitoko and 3-year-old Zuna can usually be seen in the zoo’s Gorilla environment and are often engaged playful antics!
Read more:
It’s a boy! Baby gorilla arrives at Woodland Park Zoo
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