One of the things I love about watching the animals is how they interact with each other. No matter what species of animal, one thing remains the same, the bond between a mother and child is simply undeniable. The teaching moments as well as the times of utter frustration that all mom’s feel at one time or another are universal. After watching two different animal species interact a few weeks ago, I was reminded that humans are not the only species to share this special bond.
Joanne and Imani
Western Lowland Gorillas
Hold my hand Joanne, let Mom help you …
Like this Mom? Is this how we eat the leaves?
Oshana with her cubs Ernest, Evelyn, Marion and Miss Ellen
African Lions
Oshana calling to Izu, most likely for reinforcement
Really kids, you want to eat again?
And just like all moms, as much as we love our children, sometimes we just need to walk away and have 5 minutes to ourselves.
The next time you are visiting a zoo pay close attention to how the animals are interacting with one another. Animal behavior is quite fascinating if you ask me.
Last weekend Dylan and I had the pleasure of watching the gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for quite some time. I am still amazed at how human-like these animals are … and just like humans, sometimes births can be complicated. Thankfully, Imani and her newborn daughter had top-notch care.
Baby Girl Gorilla
Photo taken on Mar. 13, 2014, by Tammy Spratt, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
According to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 18-year-old gorilla, Imani, gave birth to a baby girl yesterday, on March 12th, around 6:30 p.m. at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Imani showed signs of labor yesterday morning and was closely observed by animal care and veterinary staff. By evening, she showed no signs of progress and was transported to the Safari Park veterinary hospital for an emergency c-section.
The full-term baby, weighing 4.6 pounds, was delivered by a team of San Diego Zoo Global staff and outside consultants, including a veterinary surgeon and human neonatal specialists from UCSD Medical Center. The baby is showing some complications believed to be related to the difficult labor, and she is currently in intensive care receiving oxygen and supplemental fluids at the veterinary hospital. Imani is recovering from surgery in the familiar surroundings of the gorilla bedroom area.
This video of the delivery brought tears to my eyes. Such a beautiful moment captured here.
As with humans, the decision to perform an emergency c-section is not something doctors take lightly. However, when the mother or unborn baby appear to be in distress, a c-section can mean the difference between life and death.
“In retrospect the c-section was the right decision,” Nadine Lamberski, associate director
of veterinary services at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park said of the newborn gorilla. “We think the health of the fetus would have been compromised if we delayed the surgery any longer” Lamberski said.
1-day-old baby girl gorilla with Safari Park keeper Jennifer Minichino and Dr. Jack Allen
Photo taken on Mar. 13, 2014, by Tammy Spratt, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Like I said, just last Saturday we were watching Imani walk around the gorilla exhibit and eat lunch with the rest of her troop. She was so cute with her round baby belly. One of the gorilla keepers told us that she was due any day. We are sending lots of positive thoughts to Imani and her daughter in hopes of a speedy recovery from surgery and a healthy start for this precious new life.
This is the first baby for Imani and the 17th
gorilla to be born at the San Diego Zoo Safari
Park. The Safari Park is home to eight gorillas, including the new baby. There are four females: Vila, Kamilah, Kokamo, and Imani;two young males: Monroe, born at the Safari Park in 2011, and Frank, born at the San Diego Zoo in 2008; and adult male Winston, the silverback leader of the troop.
I have never known anyone, let alone a child, who had such passion for something. Such a strong desire to learn everything they possibly could, and then still want to learn more. That is, until my son Dylan.
While researching topics for his new business, Dylan’s Animal Adventures, we came across an article about Dian Fossey. He asked me who she was and wanted to know more about her and her work with the mountain gorillas. I suggested we watch the movie Gorillas in the Mist together. The outcome was not what I expected.
The interest was there. The understanding of what was happening during the movie was there. The concept that this was based on a true story was there. And the heart of a little boy who desperately wants to save all the animals was there when Digit was killed by poachers. The tears were flowing. It was real for him. No longer a movie, but a real animal that had been taken from this world, from his family.
Dylan did not want to watch the rest of the movie, but I encouraged him to watch and to see the wonderful work that Dian Fossey did for the mountain gorilla species.
After the movie ended I asked him what he thought of Gorillas in the Mist.
He said awesome.
What do you think about Dian Fossey?
She was wonderful. She really loved the gorillas and they loved her.
How did the movie make you feel?
It makes me want to do even more for the mountain gorillas now.
Yes, Dian Fossey, 28 years after your passing, you are still an inspiration and an advocate for the mountain gorillas. Your passion will live on in those like you and we will continue to fight for your mountain, for your gorillas, and for Digit.
To learn more about Dian Fossey, there is a wonderful article from the National Geographic archives that you can read here.
Sometimes reading about endangered species can be difficult. Doing research to write about them is even more difficult. Oh, who am I kidding, it can be down right depressing. The word endangered “seriously at risk of extinction” alone breaks my heart. However, part of making a difference in this world is creating awareness; so I keep reading, I keep researching, and I keep writing.
Every now and then I come across a success story or read about how a species, like the mountain gorilla is showing an upward climb in population. This my friends makes all the difference. Then there are the stories that bring me so much joy and hope that I can’t help but smile for hours.
This is one of those stories.
According to the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo, the rhino was born at Florida’s White Oak Conservation Center on October 30 and weighed 132 pounds. Born on an unusually cold night, the calf struggled – he was slow to start nursing and did not establish a strong bond with his mother. When White Oak staff saw he wasn’t thriving, they decided to hand rear him. BioPark animal care staff traveled with the rhino from Florida and moved the now 169-pound baby into a behind-the-scenes area at the Zoo on the evening of Nov. 14.
The Southern White Rhino almost went extinct in the early 1900’s with numbers dwindling down to 100, but thanks to conservation efforts, captive breeding programs at accredited zoos and conservation centers, and reserves, the Southern White Rhino population has climbed to over 20,000 individuals today.
The fight to end rhino poaching isn’t over and there are still five other rhino species who need saving (seven if you count the Borneo and Northern White), but seeing this little guy walk out of a crate reminds me that there is always hope when dealing with endangered species.
Gorillas have no natural predators. They are endangered because of humans hunting them for food and destroying the rain forests that the gorillas call home.
Life with Dylan 