The Cincinnati Zoo is no stranger to grabbing headlines, especially with its resident gorillas taking the spotlight. This time, Gladys, a 12-year-old gorilla raised at the Zoo since she was a baby, is garnering attention once more, and for a celebratory reason—she's pregnant. According to Local12, Gladys has been a zoo favorite since she arrived in 2013 and has overcome considerable adversity, including being raised by human surrogates after her biological mother rejected her.
Gladys' road to motherhood hasn't been without its bumps. Last year, she sustained a broken arm, which temporarily halted the zoo's breeding efforts. In a breakthrough medical endeavor, she received the world's first 3D-printed titanium cast, a move that enabled her to heal and return to her normal self, as reported by WLWT. "Her arm has healed, and we don't expect her to have trouble carrying a baby around," Cincinnati Zoo's head gorilla keeper Ashley Ashcraft told WLWT. The father, 22-year-old silverback gorilla Mbeli, is set to be a first-time parent as well, and according to zoo officials, the expectant couple will pioneer parenting in their troop.
When approached for comment, Victoria McGee, curator of primates, praised the primate care team's commitment, stating to FOX19, "They have gone above and beyond for Gladys, and, obviously, will continue to do so." The zoo's excitement over Gladys' pregnancy comes at a significant moment, as they celebrate their 150th anniversary this year.
The significance of Gladys' pregnancy extends beyond the Cincinnati Zoo, as Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered. With fewer than 175,000 in the wild and approximately 765 in zoos worldwide, every successful birth contributes to the species' survival, as outlined by Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard in a statement obtained by WLWT. The gestation period for gorillas is approximately eight and a half months, which means the zoo's newest addition should arrive soon. Although an exact birthdate has not been provided, the Zoo Has decided to share the news ahead of its traditional Zoo Babies month, which takes place in May.
