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  • From: Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>
  • To: monkeywire AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Pets and their People: Baby Kigali
  • Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 21:18:04 -0500


The People
September 30, 2001, Sunday

SECTION: FEATURES; Pg. 40,41

HEADLINE: PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE: NATURAL BORN GORILLA..;
THE BABY APE WHO AMAZED THE WORLD

BYLINE: Charlotte Seligman

BODY:

These heart-warming pictures of new-born gorilla Kigali snuggling up with his natural mother Moseka have amazed animal experts. For Kigali was born in IN CAPTIVITY - an incredibly rare occurrence for gorillas in itself. But for the mother to display such heart-warming affection by kissing and cuddling her little bundle is almost unheard of.

The amazing scenes were captured on video by Jean Vermeer, boss of Monkey Valley in Romagne, France.

He said: "Great primates rarely reproduce in captivity. Those that do have no idea how to care for their babies and often reject them. Moseka's motherly love is even more exceptional because she was herself rejected by her mother."

Seventeen-year-old Moseka gave birth without any help from zoo keepers and even managed to breast-feed her baby - also rarely achieved by any captive gorilla because they have not needed to provide for themselves.

Jean said: "Gorillas' reproduction relies on so many psychological factors and if a female is not happy in her environment or if she does not like the domineering male of the group, she will never have babies."

Jean installed a video camera in Moseka's enclosure so he could monitor the amazing birth and give help if needed.

He said: "Suddenly, I saw Moseka move a bit on her straw bed and set the nest. Fifty-six minutes later Kigali appeared. Moseka studied him carefully. She was surprised at first but then seemed to know exactly what she was doing and started to breast-feed."

Today six months on, Moseka and Kigali have re-joined their group of six gorillas.
Moseka has introduced her baby to its father Yaounde, who expressed his satisfaction through shouts of pleasure - and then got on with the serious business of peeling a banana.




  • Pets and their People: Baby Kigali, Carrie McLaren, 10/04/2001

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