‘We are all in for a real treat’: Woodland Park Zoo expecting 2 baby gorillas this spring

Woodland Park Zoo is expecting two baby gorillas this May.

Western lowland gorillas Jamani and Olympia are both pregnant and are due to give birth five days apart, according to a news release from the zoo.

Olympia is due May 19, and Jamani is due May 24. The father of both babies is Nadaya.

The gestation period for gorillas is similar to that of humans, at around eight to nine months.

Judy Sievert, a gorilla keeper at Woodland Park Zoo, said gorillas share more with humans than most people realize, including finding their babies adorable.

“A baby gorilla is exciting, but two babies will be so much fun for the gorilla care team and the community to watch them growing up together. Just like humans, gorillas also think their babies are cute. When a baby gorilla gets a little older, they become ticklish and have laughing vocalizations,” Sievert stated in the release.

Jamani (L) and Olympia (R) are both expecting babies this May. (Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo)

Woodland Park Zoo’s pregnant gorillas previously raised sons together

Olympia, 29, and Jamani, 26, have a long history together. While living at the North Carolina Zoo, they each gave birth to a son just weeks apart in 2012 and raised them together before arriving at Woodland Park Zoo in 2022.

But this will be the first offspring for Nadaya, the family group’s silverback. The zoo noted Nadaya plays a vital role in maintaining peace within their family. He moved from the Saint Louis Zoo in 2022.

“We can’t wait to see Nadaya step into the father role as a first-time dad. Both pregnant gorillas are doing great, and we can’t wait to meet our newest troop members,” Tesh Hunter, a gorilla keeper at Woodland Park Zoo, stated.

The three gorillas were relocated to Woodland Park Zoo to form a family with Jumoke, an adult female who had been living alone after her male companion died.

“There is nothing more enriching than having a baby in a family group, except for having two gorillas. We are all in for a real treat,” Sievert stated.

Preparing for new babies

All gorillas at Woodland Park Zoo undergo voluntary non-invasive exams and procedures. The females have been trained to urinate into a pipe, and the gorilla care team uses the same human pregnancy tests to determine a pregnancy.

Arden Robert, Animal Care Manager of Primates at Woodland Park Zoo, explained the zookeepers are training Jamani and Olympia to pick up burlap baby dolls and bring them to the keepers in preparation.

“We need to be prepared for all scenarios, particularly if one of the moms doesn’t immediately provide appropriate maternal care,” Robert stated.

Woodland Park Zoo currently cares for 11 western lowland gorillas living in two separate family groups.

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