Health Checking, six gorillas

Members of the Veterinary Services Department within the Chicago Zoological Society examine Binti Jua, a 22-year-old female western lowland gorilla, as the team performs physicals on two of the Brookfield Zoo's six gorillas, Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Brookfield, Ill. During the physicals performed every couple of years, the team draws blood to test cholesterol, metabolism, kidney and liver functions, performs dental and eye exams, takes radiographs of the chest and abdomen, and the team also does a cardiac ultrasound.




Members of the Veterinary Services Department within the Chicago Zoological Society examine the teeth of Binti Jua, a 22-year-old female western lowland gorilla in an examination room




Members of the Veterinary Services Department within the Chicago Zoological Society perform radiographs of Binti Jua, a 22-year-old female western lowland gorilla



The hand of Bakari, a 6-year-old male western lowland gorilla rests on an examination table as members of the Veterinary Services Department within the Chicago Zoological Society perform physicals on two of the Brookfield Zoo's six gorillas, Thursday, March 10, 2011


source: Daylife
photo: AP photo

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Feeding time for the five-day-old silverback so well protected by its mother that zookeepers don't know what sex it is

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON

Family: The five day old baby gorilla suckles on its mother as she holds his arm and another appears to be looking on affectionately


These incredible photographs show a tiny gorilla, just five days old, sleeping in the arms of its mother at Zurich zoo.

The photographs were taken today in the Swiss capital and show the proud mother, N'Yokumi looking after her newborn baby that vets have not yet been able to get close to.

That means they don't know what sex it is yet so hasn't been given a name, but mother and baby are getting on well and both appear healthy.


Thanks mum: After drinking its mother's milk, the tiny gorilla snuggles in her arms


She looks down at the baby lovingly and he appears to look back for reassurance before slowly drifting off into a deep sleep.

N'Yokumi gave birth the day before her tenth birthday on Saturday during the early hours of the morning.

The other gorillas have shown the new arrival lots of attention and all appear to approve of the latest addition to their number.

The father is a 34-year old Silverback N'Gola western lowland gorilla and they are part of the European Endangered Species Programme which has around 430 animals at 65 institutions.

They are classed as endangered on the Red List of the World Conservation Union.


Dropping off: The baby gorilla's eyes grow heavy in the comfort of its mother's embrace


Snooze time: The youngster falls sound asleep

source: dailymail

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Ambam, the swaggering silverback gorilla who walks around his pen on two legs

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

A kind of man: Ambam has become an internet hit after teaching himself to swagger like a human


Striding purposefully across the ape enclosure, he looks like a portly – and slightly grumpy – commuter in a hurry to catch a train.

While most gorillas are happy enough walking around on all fours, Ambam the silverback prefers a more human form of ambulation.

To the amusement of his keepers and fascinated onlookers, the agile ape has mastered the tricky art of walking upright on his hind legs for long distances.

The feat has placed Ambam, a Western lowland gorilla at Port Lympne wild animal park in Kent, on the brink of international stardom.

An 18-second piece of footage showing the 21-year-old male walking like a man has become the latest YouTube sensation, viewed by 150,000 people over the last few days.

Gorillas usually prefer to get around by ‘knuckle walking’ – using the padded backs of their front hands to support their huge weights as they move around the floors of forests or zoo enclosures.


High and mighty: Ambam the gorilla stands up and strolls off...He sets off across his enclosure with purpose


However, they will also stand on two legs to reach branches or get a better view, and can walk upright, swinging their arms parallel to their opposite legs to counterbalance their weight.

But few gorillas are as good at it as Ambam. Keeper Ingrid Naisby, who has worked with him for 16 years, said: ‘It’s quite unusual in gorillas but Ambam does it quite often and he can balance very well. Other gorillas do it occasionally, but he will do it for a bit of a distance.


Long arms swinging he really gets into his stride...and a backward glance to see if anyone's following him


‘He’s always liked to stand up. It’s about getting his balance right and he’s well practised. He has perfected it.’ Ambam was born at Port Lympne’s sister park, Howletts, in 1990. He was moved to Port Lympne aged seven and is now the park’s largest gorilla at an impressive 34 stone. Standing upright, he is an impressive 6ft tall.

The footage of him was taken by animal researcher Johanna Watson while she was working for a project on great ape locomotion.


Hulk: Ambam is the park's biggest gorilla, weiging in at 220kg


source: dailymail

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