KAMBERA THE WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA IS EXPECTING!

ATLANTA - July 18, 2024 - Kambera, a 25-year-old western lowland gorilla at Zoo Atlanta, is expecting an infant. The infant will be the second offspring of father Willie B. Jr.

The Veterinary and Animal Care Teams first detected the pregnancy in April. Gorilla gestation is around eight and a half months, with a birth window expected between mid-November and mid-December 2024. The teams will continue to perform prenatal ultrasounds as the pregnancy progresses; Kambera participates in these voluntarily.

Kambera has given birth to one previous offspring at another organization; however, she did not demonstrate appropriate maternal inclinations and did not rear the infant. Since the birth of Willie B. III in 2023, Kambera has had opportunities to observe the care and behaviors of experienced mother Shalia within their social group. It is hoped that these observations will enhance her own maternal skills when her newborn arrives.

Kambera, 22-year-old Shalia and the group's youngest female, 13-year-old Amari, arrived at Zoo Atlanta in 2020 to form a new troop with Willie B. Jr. The formation of this troop was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Gorilla Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which seeks to maintain a self-sustaining, genetically diverse gorilla population for future generations.

"We are thrilled to announce Kambera's pregnancy," said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. "Not only will this infant make an individual contribution to the long-term viability of a critically endangered species, but having two youngsters so close in age in the same troop will be a special joy."

Willie B. Jr. is the third offspring and only son of the Zoo's most famous gorilla, the legendary late Willie B. Generations of Atlantans grew up visiting Willie B., who became an Atlanta icon and whose move from a solitary indoor environment to the nationally renowned Ford African Rain Forest in 1988 became symbolic of Zoo Atlanta's transformation.

Kambera's infant will be the 26thgorilla born at Zoo Atlanta, a pioneer in the care and study of western lowland gorillas and the home of one of the largest populations of gorillas in North America. The Zoo has also risen to leadership in the care of gorillas in a variety of life stages, with individuals ranging in age from 15 months to 48 years, and the Zoo's expertise is sought and emulated by peers around the world. Research by Zoo Atlanta scientists has influenced the care of gorillas in zoos, as well as enhanced the world's body of knowledge of gorillas, with more than 100 published papers on maternal care, reproduction, social behavior, and cognition.

Western lowland gorilla populations have plummeted in the wild in recent years as a result of habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade, and emerging diseases. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over a 25-year period, these combined threats have reduced wild populations by 60 percent, with declines of as much as 90 percent in some parts of their range in western Africa.

Zoo Atlanta supports the AZA Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Program, which brings accredited zoos together to collaborate on shared gorilla conservation goals. For more than 20 years, the Zoo has supported its longtime partner in gorilla conservation, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, by providing pro-bono headquarters space, information technology support, and financial resources.

Learn more or plan a visit at zooatlanta.org.

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About Zoo Atlanta
A proud accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for animal care and welfare, Zoo Atlanta has a mission to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, many of them endangered or critically endangered. Highlights include giant pandas.; one of North America's largest zoological populations of great apes; and a global center of excellence for the care and study of reptiles and amphibians. Recent transformations include the African Savanna, featuring new and expanded habitats for African elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, warthogs, meerkats, and rhinos; Savanna Hall, a state-of-the-art special event destination in the restored historic former home of the Atlanta Cyclorama; and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Plaza. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.