Riverbanks welcomes another baby gorilla

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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s western lowland gorilla troop has grown to six after an infant was born to mom Macy and dad Cenzoo Wednesday afternoon.

“The first 72-hours post-partum are the most critical; however, both mom and infant appear to be doing well," said Sue Pfaff, Riverbanks' curator of mammals, in a news release. “The baby's eyes are open, the infant looks alert and the entire family troop is adapting well to the newest member.”

With only an estimated 100,000 western lowland gorillas remaining in the wild, the birth is a significant addition to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Gorilla Species Survival Plan. AZA-accredited facilities such as Riverbanks have worked to ensure the continued existence of endangered animals through breeding and transfer plans for nearly 40 years.

There are currently about 350 lowland gorillas in North American zoos, Riverbanks said.

In June, Macy’s half-sister Kazi delivered a health infant. The baby, now nearly 5 months old, is the first to be raised at Riverbanks in the zoo’s 44-year history.

Gorillas usually give birth to one infant at a time following a gestation period of about 8.5 months, and infants are usually weaned at about 3 years old, Riverbanks said.

Riverbanks’ Gorilla Base Camp will be closed for the next several days.