February 14, 2007 – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will reopen the Primate World building, home to the Zoo’s western lowland gorilla troop, on Friday morning, February 16 at 9:00 a.m. The building has been closed since the birth of a baby to Asha, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 14-year-old female gorilla. Asha immediately picked up her baby after delivery and has been nursing and caring for her offspring since the January 31 birth. Zoo officials have kept the building closed and have not allowed the general public access to the gorilla exhibit since the birth, giving the gorilla troop and the Zoo’s primate keepers an opportunity to adjust to the new arrival. Attention has been given to father Rafiki, who has shown strong protective behavior of mother and baby. The building closure has given Rafiki time to calm down and be more accepting of staff members and guests viewing the new baby.

Due to the anticipated large crowds coming to the Zoo to see the gorilla baby, the Zoo will be limiting the number of guests in Primate Building at any one time. Zoo docents and Zoo staff members will be stationed at the front doors of the Primate World building, monitoring the specific number of guests going into the building for viewing. Once a visitor group is inside the building, a Zoo docent will give that group a short briefing on the birth, the current condition of Asha and the baby and any instructions needed on approaching the exhibit’s viewing glass and spotting the baby. The guests will also get to see the TV monitors that keepers and volunteers watched during the weeks leading up to the birth. There will be an explanation of the birth watch process and the public’s questions will be answered. After that group has viewed the baby and exited the building, another limited number of guests will be allowed to enter. This process will continue through President’s Day, Monday, February 19.

This gorilla birth comes nearly one year after the birth of Umande, the male gorilla born on February 18, 2006 at the Zoo. Umande was hand-reared by Zoo staff and volunteers after his mother, Kwisha, did not care for him after birth. Umande was sent to the Columbus Zoo in October of 2006 to be united with his surrogate mother, Lulu, who has adopted him.

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