Baby gorilla Jameela welcomed at Cleveland zoo. See video of her arrival from Fort Worth
Baby gorilla Jameela has arrived safe and sound in Cleveland after her transfer from the Fort Worth Zoo, the zoo announced Thursday.
In a video, staff at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo say they’re “very optimistic and hopeful” that the zoo’s troop will be a great fit for the 11-week-old western lowland gorilla, who needs a surrogate mother after she was born in a rare C-section in Fort Worth.
The transfer, accomplished through collaboration with The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, was recommended in hopes that one of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s gorillas will step in as a foster mother to the infant.
Introductions have gone well and the gorilla troop seems very receptive to Jameela’s presence, staff from both the Cleveland and Fort Worth zoos said Thursday. The troop’s eldest female gorilla, Fredrika, who has had previous success as a surrogate mother, has already shown good interactions when welcoming Jameela, staff members said.
