Congratulations to our Resident Matriarch Bawang on becoming a Grandma for the second time. Bawang's Daughter Nneka, who was born at the San Francisco Zoo in 1998, gave birth to her second babie, last Friday!
Screencap Cleveland Zoo Facebook
Unfortunately, Nneka once again showed no interest in her newborn infant. Another troop female named Freddy (Fredrika) has now assumed the role of the little boy's Mother.
Here is a link to one of the News articles, that also includes a video of the babie and Freddy.
I am happy the birth was successful, for both the health of the babie and Nneka, and I am thankful for Freddy, who was available to be a surrogate Mama.
In 2013, when Nneka gave birth in SF, it was on exhibit. She had it and then walked away. Thankfully her Mama had been trained to surrogate, when five years earlier, our female Monifa did the same thing. Both ladies had not been around breeding females, and their first-time experiences were chalked up to just not knowing what to do.
View an SFZoo visitor video of the birth here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bGIlI1_JMP0
At the time, considering this had happened twice now, I asked if there had been any prepping in hopes for a maternal connection, via some kind of education. There had not been. I questioned whether using videos of other Apes, even Humans giving birth would be a good tool? Response was favorable, saying that was a good idea. One would also think, watching a surrogate to be education, but I'm wondering if from the Gorilla's perspective, that triggers anything more than, drop it and someone else will come by and pick it up.
Nneka moved to the Cleveland Metro Parks Zoo around three years ago. She was moved there on a breeding recommendation. I thought I heard that there were other breeding females, for her to learn from, but I can't be certain I'm not confusing that with our current SFZoo situation. Our Monifa, who walked away from her newborn in 2008, still has a breeding recommendation. Before breeding her again, it is my understanding that they want her to experience a birth and care by a biological Mother before that. Two years ago female Kimani was transferred to SF to be that teacher. Kimani had seen births and care by other females in her previous troop. Neither of our ladies has gotten pregnant yet, so it remains to be seen if that will be teachable in Monifa, or Kimani for that matter, as it would be her first-time.
So, I have to wonder, considering this birth at Cleveland Zoo is reportedly the first in 139 years, What, if anything, was done to prepare Nneka to be interested in her babie after giving birth? ... Likewise, I have to wonder if anything has been done with our females to help them learn what they should do, to avoid possibly needing Bawang to take care of a third babie.
I also am concerned that in the future Cleveland/AZA/SSP, may still want her genetics represented and they will try to breed her again, regardless of her history. I hope this will not happen and all parties will take her cue and not put her through a third pregnancy, when she obviously does not want to be a Mom.
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Thank You, Thank You! For alerts us about this wonderful event. Back in the late eighties. I tried alerting Metroparks Zoo about gorilla welfare, and issues to improve environment and socialization of then Timmy lone male. Perhaps like you I was considered bad egg, and kicked out of volunteer involvements! Had a personal meeting with then zoo director: Steven Taylor. I remember it to well. It was zoo politics he was comparing Metroparks zoo exhibit to other than gorilla exhibits as relating to Cincinnati Zoo gorilla program. It had nothing to due with how we could improve situation for Timmy. It was only years after the facts an outside exhibit was built. An years later after trio of male gorillas that they started focus on family of gorillas! Tried telling them and they didn't want to hear it. Sound familiar? Anyway of the 4 big city zoo's in Ohio to this day, Cleveland is last to have a baby gorilla born. Columbus 1st. With Toledo next, than successes rocked Cincinnati Zoo! Without dumping large chunk of change to have rights to naming the baby boy, his appropriate name should rightly be: UNO.
ReplyDelete@Junglejim ... Thank you for your comment. ... Yes sounds familiar! I heard a line in a movie this weekend, "First step in resolving a problem, is recognizing there is one". Unfortunately, it seems Zoo Directors and their crew of enablers wear rose colored glasses and think they are doing a bang up job and no need for outsider suggestions, to the point of creating a false perception of people who truly care. Sorry for your experience, Thank you for trying to help Timmy. I don't know about him but will try to research and learn more. ... Uno is a fun name. I always name our Flamingo Chicks Uno, Dos, Tres, and the hatch year. ... My name pic is Davu which means Beginning. ... Cheers!
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