Zoo Knoxville is abuzz with the news of an impending gorilla birth, expected to occur in the waning months of 2025. Kumi, a 27-year-old Western lowland gorilla, is the expecting mother, with her due date marked in calendars for late November or early December. Kumi's match with silverback Bantu was made through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan and has been successful, resulting in her current pregnancy. "When she first got here, they immediately showed interest in each other, so he was making breeding calls to her. She was receptive," Great Apes Keeper KateLyn Miller shared with WATE.
Since relocating from the Bronx Zoo in April 2024, Kumi's journey to motherhood has been carefully monitored by the zoo staff. They discontinued her birth control in December, after which signs of breeding were observed, leading to the anticipation of her pregnancy. "We pulled her birth control in December 2024. Started urine collection training in January and then got our first faint positive in April," Miller explained in a statement obtained by WATE. The zoo has facilitated regular ultrasounds and increased Kumi's diet to ensure the health of both mother and baby.
The gestation period for Kumi mirrors that of humans, spanning approximately eight to eight and a half months. As told to WVLT, Miller said, "So we started her urine selection training in January. So what we did is we had her pee on a tray and then we tested it just like you would for a human." The zoo's commitment to naturalistic husbandry practices means that although they provide care and monitor Kumi's pregnancy closely, they maintain a hands-off approach to keep animal behavior as wild as possible.
Excitement surrounding the pregnancy extends beyond the zoo's confines, resonating with the wider conservation community. The birth of a critically endangered Western lowland gorilla carries significant weight in conservation efforts. Adding to the excitement, during one ultrasound, keepers caught sight of a "little baby wave," a moment Miller described as "indescribable" to WBIR. The pregnancy has also been an opportunity to teach Kumi additional maternal behaviors using a baby doll, preparing her for her new arrival. This second baby for Kumi is set to join her first offspring and the three other gorillas born at Zoo Knoxville, all of who share Bantu as their father.
As her pregnancy progresses, Kumi will continue to be a focal point for both zoo visitors and those advocating for species preservation. Zoo Knoxville hopes that the arrival of Kumi's baby will not only bring joy to the community but also raise awareness about gorilla conservation and the importance of each birth to the survival of this endangered species. Miller's sentiments captured by WVLT encapsulate the situation: "And so far we're going strong."
