Calgary Zoo gorilla expecting her first baby
原始发布日期： 2016-01-05 发布者：李方字变大 字变小
|
You’ll go bananas over this baby. The Calgary Zoo announced Tuesday that Kioja, a 14-year-old Western Lowland gorilla, is expecting her first child in early March, marking the first gorilla pregnancy since 2008 when Yewande was born. “We are excited for this new addition to our gorilla troop as a baby is the best enrichment for the group,” said curator Dr. Malu Celli in a statement. “In the wild, gorillas are critically endangered and by adding another member to our troop we are continuing to ensure there is genetic diversity within captive populations and safeguard the long-term future of this species.” The baby’s father is 37-year-old silverback and troop leader Kakinga, who has sired nine other offspring since 1993, all of them born at the Calgary Zoo and seven of which are surviving. Kioja and her half-sister Dossi, also 14, arrived at the Calgary Zoo from the Bronx Zoo in 2009. Zuri, 18, rounds out the troop.  Kioja, a 14-year-old gorilla at the Calgary Zoo, is expecting her first baby in March 2016. Courtesy Calgary Zoo / Calgary Herald Upon learning of Kioja’s pregnancy, the gorilla team at the zoo has been helping her prepare for the birth including undergoing specialized training, conducting regular ultrasounds and behavioural analysis. The veterinary staff has also been closely monitoring her progress. Normal gestation for gorillas is about eight to nine months or 37 weeks, similar to a human pregnancy. According to the zoo, wild populations of Western Lowland gorillas have dropped more than 80 per cent in three generations and face high levels of hunting, disease and habitat loss. It’s estimated there are fewer than 100,000 left in the wild. The zoo is doing its part to help save the gorillas through the Eco-Cell program. Cell phones contain mineral coltan, which is mined in areas where gorillas live. By recycling old cell phones, the zoo is hoping for a reduction in mining activity in those areas and preserve their habitat. Calgarians can drop off their old phones at the zoo’s guest relations.  Kioja, a 14-year-old gorilla at the Calgary Zoo, is expecting her first baby in March 2016. Courtesy Calgary Zoo / Calgary Herald Calgary Herald |