This week we celebrated a joint milestone gorilla birthday at the Gorilla World. Gladys turned 6 on January 29 and on January 31, Samantha turns 49!
Gladys was the orphaned gorilla that came to the Cincinnati Zoo back in 2013 at 1 month old to find a foster mother as recommended by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan who coordinates 360 gorillas living in North America. Cincinnati was chosen based on our vast experience with baby gorillas, to date enjoying 50 gorilla births. Gladys was provided 24/7 expert human care
while, getting critical lessons on being a gorilla and living near other gorillas until she was big enough to be transferred to a foster mom, Mlinzi. At 4 ½ months, Mlinzi took over Gladys fulltime care and has guided her through many life lessons as only a mother gorilla can. At six years old, Gladys is now called a sub-adult, a teenager by human standards. So rather than a sweet sixteen gorillas have a sweet sixth birthday.
Samantha was one of the first two gorillas born at the zoo in 1970. She is named after Good Samaritan Hospital who helped with her early care. She is a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother. And although retired from producing offspring, she still shares her superb mothering skills by fostering the 50th gorilla born at the zoo “Elle”. At 49, Samantha maintains her status as the oldest mammal at the zoo, the Grand Ol’ Lady. Gorillas can live longer in zoos with than the wild with the record being an amazing 62 years old.