{"id":7402,"date":"2015-04-22T14:20:56","date_gmt":"2015-04-22T18:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_ms_news\/?p=7402"},"modified":"2022-07-07T22:30:10","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T02:30:10","slug":"baby-boom-for-the-gorilla-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/baby-boom-for-the-gorilla-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Boom for the Gorilla Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Our Magically Speaking Newsletter Archive \u2013 subscribe today<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n

By Teresa Pitman<\/p>\n

\"Flint\"<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t been to Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom for a while, you\u2019ll be in for a little surprise next time you go. Two little surprises, actually: in the past year, two new gorilla babies \u2013 both boys \u2013 have been born into the gorilla family troop that guests see when they follow the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.<\/p>\n

Baby Cory was born in August, 2014, to a new female who had joined the troop. Disney works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in determining which males and females from all the zoos in the network should be permitted to mate, to reduce the risk of genetic diseases in their offspring. This female came from the San Diego zoo.<\/p>\n

In September, baby Flint was born. He already has a big sister, four-year-old Lily, who is naturally very curious about both babies but also a little put out that her mother has less time to play with her. (Human parents, recognize anything here??)<\/p>\n

I had my first chance to see them when I visited WDW in February of this year, and I was completely charmed. Cory\u2019s mother demonstrated how effectively her baby can cling to her body as she moved quickly around their living area. Flint\u2019s mother came and sat by the window as she carefully checked him over, lifting up each little arm and leg to make sure all was well; Lily then joined them and she and Flint played a kind of peek-a-boo game over their mother\u2019s back. Gino, the big silver-backed male and father of Lily, Cory and Flint, took up a watchful position nearby.<\/p>\n

\"DSCN5798\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a rare opportunity for visitors to be able to observe a gorilla family in relatively natural surroundings. In the early months, the mothers keep their babies close to them all the time. Once the baby is able to move around on his own, she\u2019ll still keep him close by, but he\u2019ll begin to interact more with the others in the troop.<\/p>\n

Like human babies and toddlers, the gorillas like to play with toys. I\u2019ve watched Lily drape a blanket over her head and run around looking like a Halloween ghost, or pile rocks and twigs in a bucket, then dump them out again. Once Flint and Cory are more mobile, they\u2019ll be provided with toys, too.<\/p>\n

Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks, told me in a recent interview about some of the gorilla conservation work Disney is involved in. Ogden\u2019s graduate research was on gorillas so they have a special place in her heart. Disney has partnered with others to build a gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for orphaned or rescued gorillas with the goal of preparing them to be released back into the wild.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community is very remote, but the local people are very enthusiastic about the sanctuary. Most of the staff working there are local,\u201d she says. Not only are the gorillas in need of help are cared for, but there is also an emphasis on education for the community, and of finding alternative sources of work and food that doesn\u2019t involve hunting or harming endangered species.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur gorillas here in the park are helping their cousins in Africa,\u201d Ogden says. \u201cGuests are encouraged to donate to conservation causes or purchase items made in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Disney received re-accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in March 2015. Ogden quotes from the Association\u2019s report on the Disney Parks blog:<\/p>\n