FORT WORTH, Texas – The Fort Worth Zoo proudly announces the Zoo’s second-ever birth of a western lowland gorilla. The male primate was born early Sunday morning, Nov. 6, to parents Gracie and Elmo.

The yet-to-be-named ape is staying close to his mother as he meets other troop members and gets acclimated to his surroundings in the Zoo’s World of Primates habitat. The pair continues to bond but are also fully integrated into the troop, mimicking family dynamics in the wild. He can be seen in both indoor or outdoor areas of the habitat at various times during the day, which will be dictated by weather conditions and his activity level.

The Zoo is incredibly proud to share this conservation success with the community during its 30th anniversary of the “new Zoo in ’92.” For three decades, the Fort Worth Zoological Association’s (FWZA) dedication to conservation efforts have ensured that new generations of species around the world continue to thrive, while generations of families have enjoyed a world of animals right here in Fort Worth.

Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to hunting and disease. Gorillas also have an alarmingly low reproductive rate, so even if there was a drastic decline in hunting and disease, it could take decades for population recovery to occur in optimistic scenarios. The Zoo participates in a cooperative breeding program for gorillas that maintains a healthy, self-sustaining population of the vulnerable species to help prevent their extinction.

Follow this link to view and download photos and video of the newest Zoo baby: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f6hnurpepcc0wun/AADNf8FpFbtGm9s9ZPjXr6y3a?dl=0

Meet the new baby while celebrating the Zoo! Join us for our special 30th Anniversary Festival at the Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 19. Admission is half-price (and free for Zoo members) and will include live music, animal enrichment, keeper chats, giveaways (while supplies last) and more. Learn about our 30th Anniversary Festival here: https://thenewzoo.org/

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been voted a top zoo in North America by USA Today, one of the “World’s Greatest” by BloombergTV, the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 family attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a Top 10 Zoo or Aquarium by FamilyFun magazine. Home to nearly 7,000 animals, the Zoo is in the third of a four-phase master plan. The first phase, African Savanna, opened in 2018; the second phase, Elephant Springs, opened in April 2021. The third, featuring big cat species, is currently under construction and set to open in 2023. The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year and the animals that live there.

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Fort Worth Zoo announces birth of western lowland gorilla baby

by Press Release, Fort Worth Report
November 9, 2022

<h1>Fort Worth Zoo announces birth of western lowland gorilla baby</h1> <p class="byline">by Press Release, Fort Worth Report <br />November 9, 2022</p> <p>FORT WORTH, Texas – The Fort Worth Zoo proudly announces the Zoo’s second-ever birth of a western lowland gorilla. The male primate was born early Sunday morning, Nov. 6, to parents Gracie and Elmo.</p> <p>The yet-to-be-named ape is staying close to his mother as he meets other troop members and gets acclimated to his surroundings in the Zoo’s World of Primates habitat. The pair continues to bond but are also fully integrated into the troop, mimicking family dynamics in the wild. He can be seen in both indoor or outdoor areas of the habitat at various times during the day, which will be dictated by weather conditions and his activity level.</p> <p>The Zoo is incredibly proud to share this conservation success with the community during its 30th anniversary of the “new Zoo in ’92.” For three decades, the Fort Worth Zoological Association’s (FWZA) dedication to conservation efforts have ensured that new generations of species around the world continue to thrive, while generations of families have enjoyed a world of animals right here in Fort Worth.</p> <p>Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to hunting and disease. Gorillas also have an alarmingly low reproductive rate, so even if there was a drastic decline in hunting and disease, it could take decades for population recovery to occur in optimistic scenarios. The Zoo participates in a cooperative breeding program for gorillas that maintains a healthy, self-sustaining population of the vulnerable species to help prevent their extinction.</p> <p>Follow this link to view and download photos and video of the newest Zoo baby: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f6hnurpepcc0wun/AADNf8FpFbtGm9s9ZPjXr6y3a?dl=0</p> <p>Meet the new baby while celebrating the Zoo! Join us for our special 30th Anniversary Festival at the Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 19. Admission is half-price (and free for Zoo members) and will include live music, animal enrichment, keeper chats, giveaways (while supplies last) and more. Learn about our 30th Anniversary Festival here: https://thenewzoo.org/</p> <p>The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been voted a top zoo in North America by USA Today, one of the “World’s Greatest” by BloombergTV, the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 family attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a Top 10 Zoo or Aquarium by FamilyFun magazine. Home to nearly 7,000 animals, the Zoo is in the third of a four-phase master plan. The first phase, African Savanna, opened in 2018; the second phase, Elephant Springs, opened in April 2021. The third, featuring big cat species, is currently under construction and set to open in 2023. The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year and the animals that live there.</p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org/2022/11/09/fort-worth-zoo-announces-birth-of-western-lowland-gorilla-baby/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org">Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://fortworthreport.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=58564&ga=UA-194640723-1" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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