For the first time in over a decade, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff are celebrating a new baby at the zoo’s Primate World habitat – a critically endangered gorilla born to mom Asha early Monday morning.
The yet-to-be-named western lowland gorilla baby and Asha seem to be doing well, and the baby is hitting milestones including nursing and clinging to mom, zoo officials said Tuesday.
Asha appears to be bonding well with her baby, Primate World animal keeper Ashton Asbury said in a statement.
“Asha is sitting and lying down with the baby and gently patting its back, which is really adorable,” Asbury said. “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.”
This is Asha’s third baby and the first baby for dad Goma, who is also showing interest in the zoo’s newest addition.
“He seems to want to stick close to her and the baby,” Asbury continued. “I heard him making happy gorilla grumbles at them, and Asha is doing a good job of showing him the baby while keeping a comfortable distance.”
The Primate World habitat is open to the public, and guests may be able to catch a glimpse of Asha and her baby, according to zoo officials. The baby’s sex and weight is still unknown.
“As long as keepers observe that baby and mom are doing well, they will continue to let Asha take the lead on providing care,” zoo officials said.
Asha, 32, was born at the zoo in October 1992, while Goma, 34, arrived in 2016 as part of a national breeding program to keep the western lowland gorilla species alive.
Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered because of their declining numbers from disease and poaching as well as habitat loss caused by logging, human settlements and mining.
The west African forests and swamps the gorillas call home also features coltan deposits, a mineral used to make mobile phones and other electronics. Increasing demand for coltan has led to increasing habitat destruction, zoo officials said.
Coltan is recyclable, and devices can be recycled in marked bins at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, mailed to recycling companies like Eco-Cell or dropped off at electronics stores.
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