As alluded to in an earlier post, the Franklin Park Zoo's Tropical Forest was graced recently with a brand new baby lowland gorilla. Born November 3rd to 29 year old Kiki, the new baby ape was confirmed female only a few weeks ago (since official weighing, measuring and vetting could only be done after anesthetizing mum, FPZ staff refrained from meddling with the mother-daughter pair for as long as possible). Pictured above is Brandi Baitchman, senior zookeeper at the Tropical Forest, and again below, with the help of measuring tape wielding TF assistant curator, Jeannine Jackle.
Zookeepers have some of the toughest jobs in the world: many up before sunrise (so their charges may have the pleasure of starting their morning with a prompt breakfast); splitting their days between laboring like barnyard janitors, prepping trays of food that would squelch the best human appetites (think naked pink feeder mice and still wriggling insects - for the carnivores, at least), and accomplishing such feats as marker training tapirs to calmly accept flu shots - all the while retaining the grace of Noah in their patience and compassion for their animals. But for all the poo shoveling, meal-worm measuring, and very real physical hazards of maneuvering around thousands of combined pounds of undomesticated teeth, hooves and brute force, days like Dec 8th (baby check-up day) are monuments to the joys of the job; yes, going face to face with baby wild animals is inherently joy inducing, but baby animals that are the product of combining scrupulous worldwide conservation efforts with years of nurturing individual representatives of rare species are a well deserved badge of pride for their keepers, they're accomplishments that are no doubt as satisfying to reflect on professionally as they are to cuddle up with in person (if only for a fleeting hour or so). My hats off to the FPZ TF crew for their flawless teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication - you guys rock.
More baby gorilla illustration to come... And if you're in town, pop by the zoo and submit a name for this lovely, brown-eyed little girl: a baby-naming contest is currently underway - the winning name will be chosen and announced in a public presentation on Feb 26th and the winner will receive a family membership to the zoo, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour for up to six people.
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