A Gorilla Birth Brings Two Surprises for the Columbus Zoo
July 24, 2023
A newborn baby gorilla has arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, bringing two surprises that delighted the care team and are of great importance for the conservation of a critically endangered species.
Surprise #1: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's gorilla family recently welcomed a baby gorilla, a birth that was unexpected, yet exciting for the care team and important for the conservation of a critically endangered species.
Surprise #2: The baby's mother, 8-year-old Sully, was believed to be a male gorilla before this surprise birth.
Photo credit: Graham S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
In December 1956, the Columbus Zoo was the first zoo in the world to welcome the birth of a baby gorilla. For the next 67 years, the zoo has continued to make vital contributions to gorilla conservation. By sharing some additional details about this recent heartwarming news, the zoo hopes to inspire people to join them in their mission to protect the future of this amazing species.
Sully, who has lived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with her mother and fellow troop members since 2019, was initially thought to be a male until the gorilla care team discovered her holding the unexpected baby gorilla early Thursday.
Photo credits: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
It's hard to tell the sex of younger gorillas. Until about age 8, males and females are about the same size, and they don't have prominent sex organs. As gorillas age, they become sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look very different. However, males don’t develop their characteristic large size, silver backs, and large head bumps (called sagittal crests) until age 12 or later.
Veterinarians at the zoo where Sully was born maintained a hands-off approach in their care, as Sully was a healthy baby being well-cared for by her mother. While Sully was initially identified as male, upon arriving at the Columbus Zoo, Sully was a young and healthy animal and did not need any procedures requiring immobilization that would have led to this discovery sooner. For the safety of the animals, professional zoos employ anesthesia only when absolutely necessary for medical reasons.
Photo credits: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The gestation for a gorilla is 8.5 months, so Sully became pregnant late last fall.
Gorillas are biologically able to reproduce as early as age 5, so Sully is old enough to give birth.
Photo credits: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The troop is supportive of Sully and the infant, and they will remain as a social group.
The infant appears to be healthy, and first-time mom Sully is taking good care of her. The veterinary and animal care teams have not yet approached the infant, giving them time to bond with one another and with the rest of the troop, but will conduct a wellness exam soon.
It’s a girl! The team at the Columbus Zoo confirmed the baby's gender visually and with photographs that were also sent to a primate expert at another leading zoological facility.
A DNA test will be done later to determine which male is the baby's father. Sully lives in a social troop headed up by silverback Mac (age 39). The troop also includes two younger males, Kamoli (age 10) and JJ (age 6), and five females, Kinyani (age 40), Tabibu (age 31), Mo'ana (age 21), Kamina (age 8) and Zahra (age 5). A separate troop at the Zoo, headed up by silverback Ktembe (age 26), and has four females; Nia (age 29), Cassie (age 29), Sue (age 18), and Jamani (age 3).
The team at the Columbus Zoo is thrilled by the addition of another birth for this critically endangered species. As the 34th gorilla born here since 1956 when the Columbus Zoo became the first zoo in the world to welcome the birth of a baby gorilla, she's an important part of their work to conserve these magnificent animals.
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat loss, deforestation, and bushmeat, which have reduced their numbers to about 100,000.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium actively supports gorilla conservation through several projects in Central Africa, from research to rescue and rehabilitation missions. In 1991, the Columbus Zoo also founded Partners In Conservation (PIC), a grassroots effort to protect African wildlife through humanitarian projects. Over the last 27 years, PIC has supported more than 60 projects focused on Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition to its world-class gorilla breeding program, the Columbus Zoo is known for being a pioneer in gorilla fostering for more than 30 years. The Zoo has been recognized internationally for the care of gorillas in social groups, including expanding social groups through the placement of young gorillas with foster mothers when their biological mothers were unable to care for them. Over the years, nine gorillas born at the Columbus Zoo have been raised through this fostering program, and seven others have been sent from other zoos to receive care.