News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
July 2, 2018
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Chicago Zoological Society Announces Name of Month-old Gorilla at Brookfield Zoo

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Brookfield, Ill. – The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is happy to announce the western lowland gorilla born on June 1 is a female and has been named Ali. The 1-month-old infant and her mother, Koola, can be seen in the zoo’s Tropic Word: Africa habitat along with Koola’s two other offspring Kamba, 13, and Nora, 4; Zachary (Kamba’s son), 2; Binti Jua (Koola’s mother), 30; and JoJo (the infant’s father), 38.

In Ali’s first few months, she will have a strong grip and will cling to Koola’s abdomen. At around 3 months old, zoogoers will be able to watch her ride on Koola’s back, and about a month later Ali will begin exploring the habitat on her own but will still stay within arm’s reach of Koola. Ali will start to sample small pieces of food at about 4 months old, but nursing will continue for the next several years.

“Ali is a wonderful addition to the four-generation family of western lowland gorillas currently in the group at Brookfield Zoo,” Amy Roberts, Senior Curator of Mammals, said. “She has already been welcomed into the existing gorilla social group, which is typically comprised of one adult male (known as a silverback), several adult females, and juveniles.”

Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered primarily due to commercial hunting for the bushmeat trade, diseases such as the Ebola virus, as well as the illegal pet trade and habitat destruction from logging. It is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 western lowland gorillas in their native West Africa habitat (the forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Congo, and Angola), and almost 350 western lowland gorillas living in accredited North American zoos.
 
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About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.
 
 
 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sondra Katzen
Media Relations Manager
Office: 708-688-8351
Cell Phone: 708-903-2071
E-mail: Sondra.Katzen@CZS.org

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