Baby gorilla born at Detroit Zoo for 1st time ever: When visitors will be able to see it

(Detroit Free Press) A special miracle occurred at the Detroit Zoo in the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 8: 26-year-old gorilla Bandia gave birth to the very first baby gorilla in the zoo’s 96-year history.

The zoo reports that mom and baby are doing very well, along with 36-year-old father Mshindi.



“Gorillas are born at about four or five pounds,” said Tami Brightrall, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). “So they’re pretty small compared to a mom, who weighed about 240 pounds when she had the baby. When they’re born, they are helpless, like a human being; they can’t do much on their own. The mother has to hold them and care for them, and this baby that was born around 2 a.m. is strong, it’s got a good grasp with its hands. It’s moving well, it’s vocalizing (and) making little sounds. It looks really healthy, and Bandia is doing a very good job taking care of it.”

“Gorillas are born at about four or five pounds,” said Tami Brightrall, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS). “So they’re pretty small compared to a mom, who weighed about 240 pounds when she had the baby. When they’re born, they are helpless, like a human being; they can’t do much on their own. The mother has to hold them and care for them, and this baby that was born around 2 a.m. is strong, it’s got a good grasp with its hands. It’s moving well, it’s vocalizing (and) making little sounds. It looks really healthy, and Bandia is doing a very good job taking care of it.” ...............(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2024/08/09/detroit-zoo-baby-gorilla-birth-bandia/74728531007/