Calgary’s Zoo has cause for celebration, as 21-year-old western lowland gorilla, Dossi, has given birth to a new baby.
Dossi delivered the newborn early Wednesday morning, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo said. The sex of the new gorilla isn’t yet known.
According to the zoo’s Animal Care, Health and Welfare team, mom and baby are doing well. Dossi is showing great early mothering skills, they said.
“This is Dossi’s first baby, and we are cautiously optimistic,” said Jamie Dorgan, Director of Animal Care, Health & Welfare at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.
“Dossi, Jasiri, the baby and the troop are all adjusting to the newest family member and the Animal Care, Health & Welfare team will be closely monitoring and supporting them every moment along the way.”
The Calgary Zoo announced Dossi’s pregnancy last December. The father is 23-year-old gorilla, Jasiri. The Zoo said at that time that first-time pregnancies are more likely to be unsuccessful.
One of the other troop members, Yewande, gave birth in March 2021, but that baby didn’t survive.
The last successful baby to be born at the Calgary Zoo was Kimani, who was born in 2016.
The zoo said that since gorillas are social and develop close family bonds, Dossi, Jasiri and the newborn are with the rest of the troop in the main habitat.
The African Rainforest exhibit is closed to allow the troop privacy, the zoo said. The building will remain closed until the gorillas are ready for visitors.
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is part of the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan to help conserve the population.
