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Three hours that changed my life forever — what’s your story? or How I met Kelele, a Western Low Land Gorilla
By Carolyn F Chryst, PhD
(Gorilla gorilla gorilla) that is not a mistake — the scientific name is Gorilla gorilla gorilla!
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I worked at a zoo in Northwest Ohio, once upon a time. a long time ago. While there, I had the sad but incredible privilege of holding a baby girl gorilla whose mother had suddenly died. Shortly after giving birth, Happy, the mother gorilla suddenly died of an aneurysm leaving her infant orphaned. Another female gorilla had also recently had a baby, so it was hoped that she would adopt this poor infant gorilla. Like humans gorillas live in tight knit family groups. Unfortunately, that gorilla mom, her Aunt, had enough on her plate caring for her own newborn and wanted nothing to do with this orphaned little one. She sniffed her niece and looked at her, but wouldn’t pick her up.
While the staff who cared for the gorilla troop developed a plan, other departments and volunteers were asked to take shifts holding and feeding the baby. Like human babies, infant gorillas need a lot of physical contact. This little baby gorilla was not to be ignored, she was very vocal if she wanted something or didn’t care…