As of Friday (Aug 9), it will have been three weeks since the Zoo posted an update about the Babie Gorilla born to Nneka on July 17th. There was one article, on one news source that came out on July 24, yet the information in that article was never even posted to the Zoo's own Social Media sites. I made a post to my other blog that day:
>> > July 24, 2013 - There has still been no update from the Zoo via their website or Facebook page, in regards to the babie Gorilla. The last word was on Friday morning, five days ago. Its very curious, considering they made the announcement that she had been born, and there was a video. That said, while there on Monday I did hear that while all the Gorillas are interested in the babie, coming in to see it and touch it, Nneka has not shown a "mothering" interest and the Staff is taking care of her. Further information produced that, going the way of using Bawang as surrogate would probably be what would happen if Nneka did not take interest soon. I didn't post this because I didn't think it was my place to, until there was definite word on what the plan would be. With still no word from the Zoo on Social Media sites, this article did come today via Google News alert, confirming the information I got. ... I'm looking forward to seeing the babie on the video, like they did with Hasani and what I had hoped they would do with Tiger Cubbie.
Since the Tiger Cub birth I have started to check the Zoo's Facebook page a couple times a week. Over the past three weeks, several people have asked for updates on the Gorilla Babie. All but one had gone unanswered. The only Zoo only replied to one inquiry on July 29 and said: "Gorilla baby is great, thanks for asking. Updates soon"
With another week passed and no still no update from the Zoo, this was posted by user Nica Doodle:
"What about our gorilla baby fix? It's been 2 weeks, and not a single word? I don't understand. It's no secret that mom isn't raising her, we got pictures/video of Hasani early on, didn't we? Sorry for the frustration, but people have been asking about her for weeks, and we were promised an update "soon", did I miss it?"
The answer is no. She didn't miss it, there has been no update.
We all ask the SFZoo, Why has there been no updates?
While other Zoo's are on babie watches, have live dens cams, and get Animal updates, our Zoo seems to always hide behind a veil. Everything is so secretive, it breeds curiosity. Like I noted, they haven't even posted information that was in a news article.
While other Zoo's are on babie watches, have live dens cams, and get Animal updates, our Zoo seems to always hide behind a veil. Everything is so secretive, it breeds curiosity. Like I noted, they haven't even posted information that was in a news article.
When will this camera stream be set-up? I was in the Lion House last week and the Video Monitor that was used for the Tiger Cub (which I assume will be the one used) was still in there. Its not in use so why hasn't it been set-up yet?
That all said, I was also told this week that the Keepers started taking the Babie out in the morning before the Zoo opens, why haven't they posted any photos of that? I remember they did this when Hasani was born. Keepers told me they brought him out to get Vitamin D from the natural light. It was so exciting to see him so tiny! Here are a couple of my photos :) ... I'm sure people would be thrilled to see more photos of the new Babie!
Babie Hasani 2009
As stated by Nica Doodle, the silence surrounding this Babie is curious, considering the birth was not only made public, but in front of the public. One has to even wonder, if it was not witnessed by Visitors, would they even have announced this birth?
UPDATE: Sunday August 18, 2013 - I meant to make this update after my visit on Tues (8/13), but didn't get to it. Doesn't seem to matter, as the Zoo has still not made any mention of the Gorilla babie on any of their Social Media sites. This past Friday, marks week four of no word and yesterday, August 17th makes the babie now one month old.
Not sure when this sign went up, but it wasn't there on Monday the 5th, but was on Tues the 13th. Per this sign, I guess there will be NO info til the babie is ready to be on view? Not sure whatever happened to the video they were going to put outside the exhibit. Maybe it will be there tomorrow.
