The Hogle Zoo in Utah is celebrating the birth of a new baby at the zoo — an endangered Western Lowland Gorilla.
On May 31, 2024, the Instagram account for Hogle Zoo (@hoglezoo) shared a video and first look at the new baby and his happy mama. Take a look!
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In a short Reel on Instagram, the Salt Lake City Zoo shared details about the little one and explained why this is a big deal for conservation efforts.
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“It’s a boy!” the zoo shared. “Western Lowland Gorilla Pele delivered a healthy baby boy on Thursday, May 30, 2024, around 6:30pm.”
The zoo’s update shared that the mom and the brand-new baby Gorilla are doing well.
“Pele is already an amazing, attentive mom, and Husani (dad) continues to do his job keeping the troop in order,” the update continued. “The troop is curious about the newborn but keeping a respectful distance for the new parents.”
Perhaps the most excited about the new baby, other than mom and dad, is 3-year-old Georgia, who is part of their troop.
Any new baby born at the zoo is a good thing, but this one is particularly so.
“This birth marks an important step in the conservation of Western Lowland Gorillas,” their announcement shared. “We’re so excited to contribute to this critically endangered species!”
When Gorillas are born, they weigh approximately four pounds, and they grow really quickly. According to GorillaFund, moms are in close contact with their babies for about six months, never straying far from mom at all.
“At around 3 months of age, gorilla infants will start to manipulate objects and explore their environment,” the organization shares. “Around 8 months, they’ll be walking and exploring within a few feet of mom. As they gets older and braver they will range further. When Gorillas are around 12 years old, they’re reached maturity.
Western Lowland Gorillas are ‘critically endangered’
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been tracking the population of Western Lowland Gorillas for decades. Their population has continued to decline, which is why it’s listed as “Critically Endangered.”
According to the IUCN’s Red List, a species listed as Critically Endangered means the species is at an extremely high risk of extinction. This is marked by a rapid decline in population of 80 to 90 percent over the past decade, or there is only a current population of less than 50 individuals.
The ICUN notes that “population decreases were driven by a combination of poaching and disease” for the Western Lowland Gorilla, and the numbers continue to drop.
In 1988, the Western Lowland Gorillas were listed as “vulnerable” and moved up to “endangered” in 1996. Their risk category jumped to “critically endangered” in 2007, and it’s been there since.
That’s why any birth of an animal in a zoo under the care of zooologists is a great reason to celebrate.
