Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Celebrates the Birth of Critically Endangered Gorilla
By: NewsPenguin Reporter, Nam Yejin
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, known for its dedication to wildlife conservation, recently shared two surprising announcements regarding western lowland gorillas.
On February 19th, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium joyfully announced the birth of a calf by western lowland gorilla, Sully.
Western lowland gorillas are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Therefore, the birth of this calf is a positive step towards population recovery for these gorillas.
The news, however, came as a surprise to the zookeepers, as Sully had always been believed to be male. The confusion arises because it is challenging to differentiate between male and female gorillas visually until the age of 8. Therefore, Sully’s true gender remained unknown until the birth of the calf.
Male characteristics such as a large body, silvery fur, and a prominent thalamus develop in gorillas after the age of 12. Since Sully is only 8 years old, these sex-specific features had not yet appeared, leading to the mistaken assumption of Sully’s gender.
Determining the gender of gorillas through medical examination is possible, but in Sully’s case, the zookeepers hesitated to separate her from her mother due to their deep bond. Consequently, they relied on observation to determine gender, resulting in the misidentification of Sully as a male.
Furthermore, it is difficult to detect gorilla pregnancies due to the smaller size of gorilla fetuses compared to human fetuses. Additionally, there are no external changes such as belly or breast swelling. The large abdomen of gorillas also makes it challenging to visually identify the difference.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium expressed their awe at the birth of Sully’s calf, emphasizing the importance of this critically endangered species. They plan to conduct genetic testing and health checks to identify the father of the calf, as well as further conservation research.
Sully’s offspring is currently assumed to be female, and she is developing bonds within her gorilla family.
The Dian Fossey International Gorilla Fund, a mountain gorilla conservation group, highlighted the surprise element of gorilla births, as there is currently no way to confirm pregnancies in gorillas.
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[뉴스펭귄 남예진 기자] The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in the United States, which works to protect wildlife, reported two shocking news about the western lowland gorillas.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced on the 19th (local time) that western lowland gorilla ‘Sully’ had given birth to a calf.
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Endangered species of western lowland gorilla. (Photo by IUCN)/Penguin News
Western lowland gorillas are a Critically Endangered (CR) species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, so their birth is a positive thing in terms of population recovery.
However, keepers at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said, “It’s a big surprise because Sulli, who gave birth to a baby, has always been thought to be a man.”
Then why did people misunderstand Sulli as a man? The zoo said, “It is difficult to distinguish between the sexes of gorillas with the naked eye because there is no significant difference in appearance between male and female gorillas until the age of 8.”
Characteristics of male western lowland gorillas. On the left, the thalamic ridge has developed and the head looks sharp, and on the right, silver hair has developed. (Flickr photo Charlie Marshall, flickr Ted)/NewsPenguin
First, gorillas are capable of reproductive activity from age 5 onwards, but male characteristics such as a large body, silvery fur, and a helmet-like thalamus develop after age 12. That is, until then, there is no significant difference according to gender.
In the case of Sulli, who has been living at the zoo since 2019, no sex-specific characteristics appeared because she was 8 years old this year.
Of course, it was possible to find out the gender through a medical examination, but since Sulli had a deep connection with her mother, it was assumed that she was male as a result of observation without separating them separately.
Finally, not only are gorilla fetuses smaller than human fetuses of the same primate, but they also do not show any external changes such as swelling in the mother’s belly and breasts. In addition, due to the body shape of the gorilla, the abdomen is large, so it is difficult to find the difference.
That’s why the zookeepers didn’t know Sulli’s exact gender and whether she was pregnant until they saw her holding a baby.
In fact, the Dian Fossey International Gorilla Fund, a mountain gorilla conservation group, said, “The birth of a baby is always a surprise because there is no way to confirm whether gorillas are pregnant or not.”
Currently, Sulli’s offspring is assumed to be female, and she is building a bond with her family. However, as the identity of the father is unknown, a genetic test is carried out along with a health check.
“We are impressed by the birth of this critically endangered species,” said Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. “As the 34th gorilla born here, he will be an important resource for conservation research.”
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