Cincinnati Zoo has big news about Gladys the Baby Gorilla!

Posted April 10, 2014

Today is a big day at the Cincinnati Zoo!  The Zoo is excited to officially announce that Jomo, the male, silverback Western-lowland gorilla, was successfully introduced to the baby gorilla, Gladys’, family group!

Baby Gladys on M’Linzi’s back with Jomo nearby, at Cincinnati Zoo
Baby Gladys on M’Linzi’s back with Jomo nearby, at Cincinnati Zoo

Jomo was first introduced to Gladys, Mara and M’Linzi on April 1, in their indoor space.  Because those introductions went smoothly, Cincinnati Zoo keepers elected not to delay the next phase of introductions and moved two female gorillas, Asha and Anju, (Asha is pregnant), all to Gladys’ group with Jomo already in it on April 8.   That introduction went very well, as you will see in the video below that has the entire family together, outdoors.

From the beginning, the Cincinnati Zoo’s main goal has been to get Gladys in a species typical social group, with a silverback, and to have her in a group with expecting mothers, as is the case with Asha (and hopefully, eventually Anju), so all the kids can grow up together.  This phase of introductions has been extremely critical and very important for a young gorilla’s behavioral and social development.

Video of the new family all together yesterday evening can be viewed here – http://youtu.be/wAbh87RJ1Po

Baby Gladys outside with M’Linzi, at Cincinnati Zoo
Baby Gladys outside with M’Linzi, at Cincinnati Zoo

The gorillas now living in this family group with Gladys include:

  • M’Linzi w/Gladys
  • Mara
  • Asha
  • Anju ( pronounced aa-new)
  • Jomo
  • Samantha

The new family will be out again today, sometime around 11 a.m., and the Zoo welcomes visitors to come by and see them.   Because Cincinnati weather is still temperamental, Gladys’ group will not be outside daily.