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A baby gorilla has been born at the Detroit Zoo!

Jer Staes Jer Staes Detroit, MI

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A baby gorilla has been born at the Detroit Zoo!

Show notes

It's just the second in the Zoo’s history and a big moment for the Great Apes of Harambee habitat.

According to Detroit Zoo officials, the female was born late Sunday, July 12, to first-time mom Tulivu.

Zoo officials say both are doing well, along with father Mshindi, who is also the sire of Motema, the first gorilla ever born at the Zoo in 2024.

That makes the new infant and Motema half-siblings.

Over roughly eight and a half months of pregnancy, Tulivu voluntarily trained for routine ultrasounds, giving vets a clear view of the baby’s development.

The gorilla group came to Royal Oak in 2023 on a breeding recommendation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which manages gorillas in human care to keep the population healthy and genetically diverse.

The Great Apes of Harambee building is open, but staff say the newborn may not always be visible as Tulivu and the troop are given time to bond behind the scenes.

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