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Baby Gorilla Born at Busch
Gardens Tampa Bay
By Aimée Jeansonne Becka, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. – A 33-year-old Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) named Kishina gave birth last November to a 5-pound male with the help of medical professionals from Tampa General Hospital. It was the
  
first gorilla birth in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s 46-year history.

“There haven’t been very many caesarians in great apes, so to have a baby boy come out and do well was wonderful,” said veterinarian Dr. John Olsen.

The birth brings to seven the number of gorillas in the park’s Myombe Reserve® habitat, a 3-acre rainforest environment opened in 1992. Busch Gardens had been
working on breeding these endangered primates for several years, but it took the introduction of two new males from the Denver Zoo in 2003 – 30-year old
Koundu (Koon-doo), and his son Cenzoo (Sen-zoo), 9 – to create the right social setting for the park’s females. The transfer was part of the internationally recognized Species Survival Plan (SSP) administered by members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are intended to maintain the genetic diversity of endangered species.

While it was expected that the older silverback would breed with the park’s females, it was actually his son, Cenzoo, who paired up with Kishina to produce the
baby. When Kishina conceived, however, veterinarians were concerned that a preexisting pelvic injury might affect her ability to give birth on her own.

Associate Veterinarian Dr. Ray Ball worked closely with medical professionals from Tampa General Hospital for several months to prepare for the possibility of a C-section.

“We monitored her pregnancy very carefully,” said Ball. “We had to be prepared for every possibility, so we spent several hours observing deliveries and C-sections at Tampa General as practice in case we needed to assist Kishina. And it was obviously a good thing we did.”

The primate team also worked on trained husbandry behaviors with Kishina, behaviors such as presenting her abdomen for ultrasounds. Staff prepared her for the birth and infant care by using a “model baby” and practicing retrieving items, since this would be the first baby she has raised.

As her pregnancy came to term, veterinarians noticed Kishina was exhibiting signs of distress. An ultrasound examination revealed that the mother gorilla had placenta previa – the afterbirth was blocking the opening of the cervix, a potentially life-threatening complication. The OB-GYN team from Tampa General Hospital led by Dr. Catherine Lynch was called to the park to perform surgery. During his first 10 days of life, the baby was cared for by members of Busch Gardens’ veterinary and animal care staff, some of whom wore a shaggy vest while holding him to encourage the infant’s natural cling response.
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As the mother recovered from surgery, animal care staff monitored the baby’s health to ensure proper nursing. They also evaluated the mother’s interest in her baby. When primate experts at Busch Gardens felt it was safe, the pair was successfully reintroduced. Kishina showed great care and tenderness toward her new baby.

Mother gorillas are typically closely bonded to their offspring for the first three years of life, and Bolingo will be in almost constant contact with his mother for the first six months. Kishina will likely nurse the baby for two to three years.

When the birth was announced, Busch Gardens guests were given the opportunity to help select the baby’s name by voting online at buschgardens.com. More than 58,000 people voted for “Bolingo,” which means “love” in Lingala, a language spoken in the western part of Africa where these gorillas are found.

Animal care staff continued to monitor the new mom and baby as the pair became comfortable with one another and the other gorillas. Kishina and Bolingo spent several days in their behind-the-scenes quarters to allow closer observation. Veterinarians were looking to confirm nursing and other behavior consistent with successful maternal care before the pair would be permitted to venture out on the habitat.

“She was showing Bolingo to the other gorillas, as if to show off what a great job she did,” said Animal Care Specialist Coffy Bennis. “Now that they are out on the Myombe Reserve habitat each morning, she sits right where the guests can see her and shows them her new baby too. The guests love it.”

Bennis says Busch Gardens is proud to have baby Bolingo as an ambassador to bring greater awareness to the plight of endangered western lowland gorillas and all the endangered great ape species. The numbers of great apes in the wild have decreased drastically due to habitat loss, the bushmeat trade crisis and disease. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is working with organizations in Africa and worldwide to help protect this species and other endangered animals. Busch Gardens also has partnered with the Mbeli Bai Western Lowland Gorilla Study, the longest running African field study of this gorilla species, to help learn more about these amazing animals.