Critically endangered infant gorilla dies days after birth at Georgia zoo. ‘Heartbroken’
UPDATE: An infant gorilla born at Zoo Atlanta has died, officials said in a Nov. 18 update.
“We are heartbroken,” zookeepers wrote on Facebook.
The tragic update comes just five days after Kambera, a Western lowland gorilla at the zoo, gave birth on Nov. 13. Officials were monitoring the mom and baby and remained “cautiously optimistic” that Kambera would begin nursing on her own.
She did just that and was displaying other “positive maternal behaviors,” zookeepers said.
“Sadly, however, the infant was observed to be deceased this morning,” the zoo said.“Like humans, newborn gorillas are very fragile, and the first few days of life are uncertain for any baby animal.”
Officials said an necropsy is planned to learn more about the gorilla’s death.
The original story is below.
A “healthy” baby with a “strong grip” was born to a critically endangered gorilla at Georgia’s Zoo Atlanta, officials said.
Kambera, a Western lowland gorilla at the zoo, welcomed a baby girl on Nov. 13, marking the 26th gorilla born at the zoo, officials said in a statement posted on Zoo Atlanta’s official Facebook page.
The newborn hasn’t been named yet, but is showing “positive signs” and “normal vocalizations” that mom Kambera is responsive to, according to zookeepers.
It’s the second baby for dad, Willie B. Jr, and a sibling for first-time brother Willie B. III.
The mom and baby are being watched closely, as they haven’t been observed nursing, the zoo said.
Kambera previously rejected a child while housed at a different organization prior to moving to Zoo Atlanta, according to the zoo. Still, officials said they’re “cautiously optimistic” and have a contingency plan in case Kambera rejects her offspring again.
On Nov. 15, zookeepers briefly separated the mom and her baby to ensure the infant was properly fed and hydrated before returning her to her mother.
“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,” Sam Rivera, vice president of animal health at the zoo, said in the release.
“Fortunately, our teams were prepared for a variety of outcomes with this birth,” Rivera said.
Native to the Congo Basin, Western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the subspecies of great apes, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
They’re considered critically endangered due to “exceptionally high levels of disease and hunting,” which have caused their populations to dwindle.
“Their population has declined by more than 60 percent over the last 20 to 25 years, with about one-third of the total population found in protected areas affected by the Ebola virus in the last 15 years,” the Smithsonian said.
Zoo Atlanta said it will continue to monitor Kambera and her newborn to ensure they’re both healthy.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Critically endangered infant gorilla dies days after birth at Georgia zoo. ‘Heartbroken’."