The Woodland Park Zoo is expecting a new baby gorilla this spring

Woodland Park Zoo has announced that resident gorilla Nadiri has completed the first trimester of pregnancy and is expecting her second baby in the spring of 2021.

24-year-old Nadiri already has one baby gorilla, Yola, with 20-year-old Kwame.

When Yola was born, Nadiri showed a lack of maternal instinct which caused worry to zookeepers. Because of this, veterinary staff are preparing for every possible scenario.

“We believe things will be different when Nadiri gives birth to her second infant,” said Martin Ramirez, mammal curator at Woodland Park Zoo. “Nadiri has gained valuable experience raising Yola. She has become more confident and has turned out to be an excellent mom to her firstborn.”

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Parents Nadiri and Kwame were paired under the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which is a cooperative, conservation breeding program across zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species.

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo currently has two groups of gorillas living at the zoo. Group one consists of Kwame, Nadiri, Yola, Uzumma, Kitoko, and Akenji, while group two houses Vip and Jumoke.