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[Josh Greenman <josh.greenman AT gmail.com>]

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/11/bonobo-baby-born-at-jacksonville-zoo.html
(with photos)

November 16, 2009

Bonobo Baby Born at Jacksonville Zoo

November 12, 2009 – Jacksonville, Florida --- Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens announced its fourth bonobo born at the Zoo—the first in five
and one-half years.  The female infant was born on the 6th of November
to Kuni, a 24 –year-old female bonobo who came to the Jacksonville Zoo
from the San Diego Zoo in 2003.  The sire of the baby is unknown, but
could be either Akili or Mabruki, resident males that are both
recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival
Plan (SSP) to breed with Kuni.  DNA tests will be done when the infant
is older to determine paternity.

Kuni, born at the Wilhelma Zoo in Germany on February 24, 1985, is
important to the Bonobo SSP population because she is unrelated to all
other U.S. bonobos, except her daughter Johari.  Johari is
non-reproductive, making Kuni and this new infant that much more
valuable to the population for increasing genetic diversity.  Both
Kuni and her infant will be monitored closely to make sure that they
are healthy.

 “The mother has wonderful paternal skills,” said the Zoo’s Director
of Animal Programs, Delfi Messinger. “She seems so proud, and shows
her baby to the ‘aunties’ in the group, as well as to her human
caretakers. The pair will be on exhibit intermittently beginning this
weekend depending on social grouping and the weather.”