Critically endangered Western Lowland Gorilla baby born at CMZoo
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) welcomed a new baby gorilla born in the early hours today, July 21.
CMZoo says Asha, a 32-year-old critically endangered Western Lowland Gorilla, and the new baby are off to a great start, with the baby hitting milestones that indicate it is strong, including nursing and clinging to its mother.
The baby will be named after 30 days, which the zoo says is a tradition.
As of now, CMZoo says the sex and weight of the baby are unknown, and keepers plan to let Asha take the lead on providing care, as long as they both continue to do well.
“Asha is sitting and lying down with the baby and gently patting its back, which is really adorable,” Ashton Asbury, Primate World animal keeper, says. “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.”
According to the zoo, the father silverback Goma of the baby is also showing interest in the baby.
“He seems to want to stick close to her and the baby,” Ashton says. “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.”
CMZoo says this is the first baby gorilla born in 13 years, but it is actually Asha's third baby and the first for the father.
The zoo says Asha was born at the CMZoo in October of 1992, and Goma moved to the zoo in 2016 for breeding recommendations made by the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan, supported by Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited organizations, including CMZoo.
According to the zoo, Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild, and their numbers continue to decline. The zoo says this is due to disease and poaching as well as gorillas facing habitat loss due to logging for agricultural use, human settlements and mining.
CMZoo states that many of the West African lowland forests and swamps, which the animals call home, are also natural deposits of coltan, a mineral used in cell phones and other electronic devices. Due to the ever-increasing demand for cell phones worldwide, the destruction of habitats for mining purposes has increased, according to the zoo.
CMZoo says the community can help preserve habitats by recycling small electronic devices and cell phones at CMZoo. According to the zoo, there is a bin located near the gorillas’ indoor dens where guests can dispose of old electronics.
CMZoo says they will send them to Eco-Cell, an organization that recycles phones, tablets, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, GPS devices, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems, and their accessories.
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