Baby Gorilla

Product ID: 0627638948

License: RM

Aspect Ratio: 1.33

Author: JULES ANNAN

Date Added: 2021-08-18

Collection: Avalon

Keywords:
Hasani the hand reared Baby Gorilla celebrates his first birthday at Bristol Zoo, A typical, energetic boy’ - Bristol Zoo Gardens’ surrogate-raised gorilla turns one, Twelve months have passed since a tiny Critically Endangered gorilla was born at Bristol Zoo Gardens -- and his keepers say he’s thriving., Hasani, the western lowland gorilla who arrived during the early hours of 19 August last year, is developing at the same rate as a human infant, has around 10 teeth and drinks four bottles of milk a day., He was born to mum Kala and father Jock -- the zoo's silverback -- but a lack of confidence shown by his mother following the birth led to her refusing to care for him., It was decided Hasani would be hand-reared by his dedicated keepers at the zoo who took it in turns to look after him, both day and night., During his first five months of life, keepers ensured he had sight of the six other gorillas at Bristol Zoo Gardens for the majority of every day so he could both smell and communicate with them whilst he was with his human carers., It became clear that one of the Zoo’s other female gorillas -- 18-year-old Kera -- was showing positive signs of wanting to care for Hasani and at eight months old, and after many successful meetings between the pair, Hasani was handed over to his surrogate., “We couldn't have wished for a better result, ” said Sarah Gedman, Team Leader of Mammals at Bristol Zoo Gardens., “We had attempted on multiple occasions to give birth-mum Kala another chance to look after him but despite her seeming very keen to begin with, we started noticing the worrying signs of her not being able to cope., “After several weeks, we just had to accept that it wasn’t working but fortunately we had another female showing very positive signs that she wanted to do the job., “Kera and Hasani are wonderful to watch. He will giggle with delight when she plays rough and tumble with him. He is very relaxed amongst the troop and is finding his place in the hierarchy.”, Despite being a little shy of the adults in the troop, keepers say Hasani enjoys instigating play with smaller members, youngsters Ayana and Juni. He’s very respectful of silverback Jock -- a natural and reassuring behaviour to see from a younger male., The infant enjoys a varied vegetable diet alongside his milk, including his favourite foods of cucumber, steamed carrot, tomatoes and romaine lettuce., He now crawls and it’s hoped that over the coming months the 9kg (20lb) western lowland gorilla will continue to build in strength and take his first steps., The wild population of western lowland gorillas is estimated at around 360, 000. Many gorillas are killed for the 'bushmeat' trade where animals are shot by hunters and the meat sold to traders in towns and cities.