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MEDIA
RELEASE
May 21, 2010
CONTACT:
Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov
502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Gorilla baby and Louisville Zoo
Mammal Curator Candy McMahan..
Photo by Kara Bussabarger/The Louisville Zoo |
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Gorilla baby
update - Friday, May 21
Baby Doing Well
/ leaving to be paired with a surrogate / she receives a name
Louisville Zoo’s female infant gorilla is doing
exceptionally well. It is now time to take the next step in her future
and so she will soon be leaving for a new home.
But before she leaves, the Louisville Zoo’s
staff, which has been caring for her around the clock, named her Misha (MEE-sha)—a
combination and blending of her parents’ names, Mia Moja and Mshindi.
After consulting with the nation’s leading
gorilla experts, it has been decided that Misha will be relocated to the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio sometime soon to be paired with an
adult female gorilla that will be a surrogate mother to the infant.
Columbus Zoo is one of the leading zoo experts in gorilla surrogacy.
Their holistic program has been refined over the past 25 years and has
set the standard nationwide. The program includes providing 24/7 care by
the hand rearing team, raising the infant next to other gorillas until
she is introduced to her new gorilla mom and a commitment from the
management team.
“The Columbus Zoo has put a lot of resources
and expertise into making their surrogacy program the best,” Louisville
Zoo Director John Walczak said. “And Misha deserves the best.”
Medically, Misha is making excellent progress.
A recent physical examination and radiographs showed the fracture in her
leg has healed, and she is no longer anemic. She is gaining weight and
is no longer on any medication. While hand raising Misha was necessary
to aid and speed her recovery following her injury, the plan always has
been to return her to a gorilla family unit. Unfortunately, mother Mia
Moja doesn’t have surrogacy history or training that would provide the
best possible care for the infant. Surrogates are taught to not only
care for their baby like their own but also to bring the baby over to
staff when prompted for bottle feedings, medication and regular
check-ups.
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Gorilla baby and Louisville Zoo
Mammal Curator Candy McMahan..
Photo by Kara Bussabarger/The Louisville Zoo |
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Eight of Columbus Zoo’s gorillas have been
raised in their surrogacy program and an additional five have been
raised for other zoos. The Columbus Zoo has several female gorillas that
could act as a surrogate mother and observations of their interest in
Misha will determine the best fit.
“This is the best thing for Misha—to be raised
by an experienced surrogate gorilla mom,” Louisville Zoo Animal Curator
Steve Wing said. “Misha’s long-term future and welfare depends on it, as
does the endangered gorilla population. We didn’t make this decision
lightly. We looked at every possible option, and this is the best
decision.”
Louisville Zoo staff members will transport
Misha to Columbus. Once there, the Columbus Zoo gorilla surrogacy staff
will work to get Misha integrated into her new setting and eventually
introduced to her surrogate gorilla mom.
It is fully expected that Misha will adapt to
her injuries and thrive as a gorilla.
“This was a hard decision to make but at the
same time an easy one. It is hard because we don’t want Misha to go—we
are going to miss her. But on the other hand, the decision was easy
because being with an experienced surrogate gorilla is the best thing
for her,” Wing said.
There are currently 15 gorillas at the Columbus
Zoo and Aquarium. (Misha will make 16.) The Zoo was named the #1 Zoo in
America by USA Travel Guide and is accredited by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (AZA.) For more information, visit
www.columbuszoo.org.
BACKGROUND RECAP
Louisville Zoo’s female infant gorilla Misha
(born February 6, 2010) suffered an injury Thursday, April 1, 2010, that
resulted in the loss of part of her left leg and broken bone near her
left hip.
It happened during a skirmish within the family
group (which consists of 21-year-old mom Mia Moja, 22-year-old father
Mshindi and 27-year-old female Kweli).
“Squabbles within a gorilla group do happen,”
Louisville Zoo Animal Curator Steve Wing said. “Gorillas exhibit complex
and dynamic relationship behaviors. It is challenging to identify the
reason for this occurrence. Mia Moja, Mshindi, Kweli and the baby had
been together sharing the same space through the pregnancy and since the
birth and doing well.”
BABY BACKGROUND
Misha was born February 6 to western lowland
gorilla Mia Moja. She was the first gorilla baby born in North America
this year and the second gorilla ever born at the Louisville Zoo. (The
first was male Azizi born to Makari on December 4, 2003, a year after
Gorilla Forest opened in May of 2002.) Her name is a combination and
blending of her parents’ names, Mia Moja and Mshindi.
MOM BACKGROUND
Mother-raised and small-framed Mia Moja was
born March 18, 1989, at Zoo Atlanta and arrived at the Louisville Zoo in
2005. Misha is Mia’s second offspring. Her first was Olympia who was
born in 1996 and sired by famous gorilla Willie B. Olympia resides at
Zoo Atlanta.
DAD BACKGROUND
Silverback Mshindi was born October 17, 1987,
at St. Louis Zoo. He was hand raised and arrived at the Louisville Zoo
in 2005. Misha is his first offspring.
KWELI BACKGROUND
Kweli is a female who was born at Cincinnati
Zoo in 1983 and arrived in Louisville in April of 2008. She is mother to
Kicho (Louisville Zoo) and also has offspring at Pittsburgh Zoo and
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.
***
The
Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky,
is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by
providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for
visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation
education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of
Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
***
Get
up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit
by checking out our new
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