Zoo Atlanta is celebrating the arrival of a western lowland gorilla, the 26th born at the zoo. Kambera, a 25-year-old gorilla, gave birth to her baby on Nov. 13.
Both mother and infant are under close care as the baby adjusts to life outside the womb and works toward the important milestone of nursing on her own.
The female newborn is showing encouraging signs, such as a strong grip and normal vocalizations. Kambera is also showing positive maternal behaviors, like holding her baby close and responding to her sounds. The Animal Care and Veterinary Teams briefly examined the infant on Nov. 15 to ensure she was hydrated and healthy before promptly reuniting with Kambera.
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For the past 18 months, Kambera has been part of a troop led by experienced mother Shalia, which has provided her with opportunities to observe maternal care. This preparation came after Kambera declined to care for another baby while living at a different organization. The new infant’s father, Willie B. Jr., and older sibling, Willie B. III, have also been introduced to the newest family member.
“We are very encouraged and cautiously optimistic that the baby will be able to nurse regularly in the near future,” said Sam Rivera, DVM, Vice President of Animal Health. “Intervention is never a preferred measure unless an infant’s health is in question, as we always want to see gorilla babies remain with their mothers with no human interference. Fortunately, our teams were prepared for a variety of outcomes with this birth. We continue to closely watch both Kambera and the infant to ensure both remain healthy.”
Zoo Atlanta said more updates are expected on Kambera and her new baby girl.
