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CINCINNATI (September 1, 2015) – It’s a big day in Gorilla World at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! One-week-old Western lowland gorilla, who is yet to be named, got to explore the outdoor exhibit with her group.  The baby girl was born on August 29 at 7:10am to dad Jomo and mom Anju. This is Anju’s first baby and the 50^th gorilla born at the Zoo since 1970.

The #CZBGBabyGorilla will be going out with mom, “Anju,” dad “Jomo,” and family members “M’linzi,”  “Asha,” and babies “Gladys” and “Mondika.”  The gorilla baby’s outdoor exhibit appearances are weather and health dependent.  If weather is warm enough, keepers will put her group out in the morning and the other gorilla group out in the afternoon.  Best chance to see her is at 10 a.m.

VIDEO of baby gorilla public debut

There are about 765 gorillas in zoos worldwide including approximately 360 in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP) for this species. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild, with less than 175,000 individuals. Due primarily to habitat destruction caused by logging, mineral mining and agricultural expansion, wild gorilla numbers continue to shrink.  The bushmeat trade – the killing of wild animals to be used as human food – is also a major threat to the western lowland gorilla population throughout the Central African rainforests.  Over 1,000 gorillas are illegally poached for the bushmeat trade each year. The Cincinnati Zoo supports wild gorilla conservation efforts like the Mbeli Bai Study in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.  The Mbeli Bai Study is the longest running research being done with wild western lowland gorillas.  Through research, local education programs, publications and documentaries, the Mbeli Bai Study is raising international awareness for gorillas and their struggle for survival. For more information, visit www.cincinnatizoo.org.

See the gorillas in Gorilla World near the Reptile House.