Oklahoma City says farewell to infant gorilla

  • 2014-09-26
On Monday, western lowland gorilla Kamina left on a private jet heading to her new home at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Kamina was abandoned by her mother just after her birth in August at the Oklahoma City Zoo. She is the second gorilla to be born at the city zoo in a year. Volunteers, along with employees at the zoo, have spent the last six weeks caring for her.

Laura Bottaro, mammal curator of the Oklahoma City Zoo, stated that caring for Kamina has been hard work since, for the first months of their birth, gorilla infants stay in the arms of their mother. Kamina has spent her life nestled in shirt fabric designed to simulate gorilla hair.

Staff are hoping female gorillas who have been surrogate mothers in the past will raise Kamina at her new surroundings. This is normal practice with zoos and sanctuaries to save the lives of infant animals.

Kamina's former caretakers are happy that she will be able to live and be raised by gorillas but have added that they will miss her dearly. They had to prepare themselves for her departure as soon as her mother abandoned her.

Patrons of the Cincinnati Zoo will no doubt be excited to see the new addition, and brochure printers are likely to be consulted so that promotional material can be updated.