Rollie has perfect timing.
“As with any birth, we are cautiously optimistic about the latest arrival. Rollie is an experienced mother who is displaying appropriate maternal skills and care,” said the zoo’s Curator of Primates, Jill Moyse,in a statement.
Rollie’s mate, Kwan, is staying close too.The zoo saysthat the silverback gorilla is keeping an eye on the mother-son pair to make sure they stay safe during this vulnerable time.
Christopher Bijalba / Lincoln Park Zoo
To help Rollie, Kwan, and the five other gorillas that are part of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s troop, acclimate to the new arrival, the gorillas’ indoor habitat at the zoo is closed to the public. The Regenstein Center for African Apes is set to reopen on May 18.
This infant’s arrival, the 53rd western lowland gorilla birth in the zoo’s history, is seen as an important conservation win. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, and each gorilla birth helps extends the species’ lifespan. Along with supporting conservation in Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo also works in the Republic of the Congo to facilitate “new strategies to mitigate the impact of human and consumer behaviors” on wild gorillas.
source: people.com
