Joanne, a western lowland gorilla who lives at the Safari Park, which is part of the San Diego Zoo organization, celebrated her second birthday recently.
Joanne was born March 12, 2014, via caesarean section, when her mother had problems during her labor. The little gorilla spent 11 days under intense medical care after her birth.
Joanne's keepers say the gorilla is active and healthy, and describe her as having a “sweet and sassy” personality. They note that she can often be found running, wrestling, and playing with her two special friends in the troop, Monroe, a four-year-old male, and Frank, who is now seven years of age.
According to zoo experts, western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat loss due to increasing human encroachment, grazing, farming, and the bushmeat trade, which is illegal.
For her birthday treat, zookeepers made Joanne a cake of flavored ice which they decorated with greens, strawberries, raisins, grapes, and yam paste. Keepers made additional cupcakes of gelatine and low-fat biscuits iced with yam, and put them throughout the Gorilla Forest for all the gorillas.
Joanne also collected popcorn and lettuce, but her father, Winston, grabbed her birthday cake, eating all the trimmings and leaving only the ice.
Zoo officials might consider celebrating by creating festive Banners with Joanne on them, and mounting them throughout the Gorilla Forest habitat.Get a Free Quote for Banners
