Koko signs "baby"

A male baby western lowland gorilla was born at the San Francisco Zoo on Monday, Dec. 8 — the first gorilla birth for the Zoo in a decade. As it soon became clear that the baby's mother, Monifa, was not going to accept the role of motherhood, the zoo decided to introduce the baby to the gorilla troop's proven mother, Bawang as a potential foster mom. The latest report is that the baby and Bawang are starting to adapt to each other through the mesh, and Bawang is showing interest in the baby.

A team of specialists in raising gorilla babies is arriving on Sunday, Dec. 14, from the Columbus Zoo to help. "If neither female gorilla [Bawang or Monifa] takes to the baby, zookeepers will rear him themselves and try to get him to integrate with the troop when he's older," said Corinnee MacDonald, the SF Zoo's Curator of Primates.

"Koko and the Gorilla Foundation are very excited about this new birth, and we have made ourselves available to provide any assistance needed," said Dr. Penny Patterson, the Foundation's President, Co-Founder and Director of Research. Koko was born at the San Francisco Zoo on July 4th 1971, and both Bay Area institutions share a commiment to gorilla conservation and optimal care in captivity.

You can keep up with the latest developments on the baby's progress via these news sites:
— San Francisco Chronicle
— BBC News (video of the baby)