The Chicago-area Brookfield Zoo this week welcomed an adorable new addition to their family.
A female western lowland gorilla was born early Monday to 18-year-old Koola. 33-year-old JoJo was the infant's sire.
JoJo arrived at the Brookfield Zoo from the Lincoln Park Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan. JoJo is considered to be "one of the most genetically valuable" male gorillas in the population of 342 western gorillas currently living in accredited North American zoos, the zoo said in a statement.
“This infant represents an important contribution to the gorilla population in North American zoos," Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages the Brookfield Zoo, said. "We hope that when zoo guests see the infant and her family members they will be inspired to care for this critically endangered species.”
