A female western lowland gorilla named Jamani gave birth at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, becoming the first of two pregnant gorillas expected to deliver. The birth followed an 8.5-month pregnancy; the infant's sex is not yet known. The father is a male named Nadaya, who became a dad for the first time and is also expecting a second infant with another female, Olympia, whose delivery is expected any day.
Both mothers previously lived at the North Carolina Zoo, where they successfully gave birth to and raised sons in 2012. In 2022 Jamani and Olympia moved to Seattle, and the male Nadaya arrived that same year from the St. Louis Zoo. Jamani is currently in special sleeping quarters with her newborn, where the mother–infant bond is being established in quiet and calm. Visitors cannot see them yet, as zoo staff are maintaining a peaceful environment to strengthen that bond.
According to animal care specialist Arden Robert, Jamani is showing good maternal skills: she is holding the infant firmly, nursing it, and a strong bond is forming between them. "As long as the mother continues to care for the infant, we are not intervening and are only performing visual checks on the newborn," Robert notes. "If visible problems arise, we will, of course, intervene." The condition of the second pregnant female, Olympia, is also being monitored.
Based on: First of 2 pregnant gorillas gives birth at Woodland Park Zoo - The Seattle Times