Louisville Zoo Collaborates to Foster Young Gorilla

Welcome Abeo! The Louisville Zoo is now caring for a male infant gorilla from the Woodland Park Zoo. The baby’s mother, Akenji, was unable to bond with the newborn. The Louisville Zoo was chosen as the new home for Abeo due to our team's experience and gorilla Kweli's successful rearing of Kindi after her mother passed away in 2016. Abeo will remain behind-the-scenes as he gets acclimated to his new home and introduced to the other residents of Gorilla Forest!

[@shawna6683]

PLEASE keep the videos coming! How cute is this little’rilla?

[@LouisvilleZoo]

We will be updating biweekly on his progress and introductions!

[@huntercollins1310]

This is wonderful! I didn't realize that there was a program like this to protect the precious little baby gorillas. We've all been rooting for Jameela, and now we have this little angel to take to our hearts. Thank you, Louisville, for wrapping your arms around this tiny new treasure. Can't wait to watch him grow up!! ❤🎉❤🎉

[@monam.5923]

Jameela is doing great. I visit the Cleveland Zoo regularly, she is walking and curious about her surroundings now. ❤️🦍

[@huntercollins1310]

@monam.5923 Thank you. 😊 The little gorillas remind me of my children when they were so tiny. And I can always understand the new mommies crashing while rocking their new babies. We are so.much alike, humans and gorillas. I'm so grateful we have zoos here and around the world protecting them. And the chimpanzees, the bonobos and orangutans. Someday I want to have a sit-down with God and ask him how He planned that all out. Wouldn't that be something?

[@HSR-bk5qb]

VERY excited for regular video updates on his progress.

[@LouisvilleZoo]

We will be updating biweekly on his progress and introductions!

[@HSR-bk5qb]

@@LouisvilleZoo Great! I know we all are excited to see his integration progress and how the troop is responding to him.

[@Funneyasfreaks]

He's so cute!!!

[@denisemorris1177]

Abeo will do well and his foster mom will love him too.❤❤❤

[@getoverit2789]

Abeo is GORGEOUS!!! Thank you, Louisville Zoo staff, for taking Abeo into your hearts!

[@Squantoon]

Incredible news.

[@xeleris1]

Adorable 🎉🎉🎉

[@crystalgallagher5508]

super excited to hear this

[@Paula_Shelton]

Oh my goodness! What a precious boy!

[@sarabalcombe896]

Good luck with the adoption process, I'm sure all will go swimmingly ❤

[@maryegarrett1950]

Love his heart, he’s adorable! He will get lots of love and support at the Louisville Zoo, as well as a good mommy! Looking forward to updates!

[@alliecat8348]

Fantastic!! That little face makes me melt 😍

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

He’s so adorable! I’m so excited for this! ♥️

[@Sammy-kn2nb]

Awww Abeo is so cute ❤❤❤. I hope everything works out well for this little one. So glad there are programs like this for these precious babies! Jameela is doing amazing with her foster momma Freddy at the Cleveland Metro Parks Zoo...fingers crossed for little Abeo that everything goes well for him too.

[@lisanotherdayolder2824]

Wishing the best for this little one and foster mom. I have been following Jameela with her foster mom and it's absolutely amazing and touching how they bonded.

[@misterhot9163]

Awww do you tickle him?😊

[@bonniebob2802]

That face ❤

[@DarlaineGermain-qz4vg]

Please update frequently. Live in NY and love gorillas.

[@LouisvilleZoo]

We will be updating biweekly on his progress and introductions!

[@SkyeRangerNick]

My every good wish to y'all for success in this adoption.

[@dmoore2732]

When did Ron Evans transfer to this zoo?

[@HSR-bk5qb]

He does look familiar... from where did he come?

[@TedShatner10]

​@@HSR-bk5qbI think he looked after baby Gladys around a decade or so ago.

[@shawna6683]

@@HSR-bk5qbCincinnati zoo

[@sunjan216]

OMG lol I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who noticed him. He used to work at Cincinnati Zoo for long time. he was amongst the seniors staff with lot of experience working with primates. he’s amazing.

[@dmoore2732]

@@sunjan216 Louisville is in good hands then.

[@shirleycreer4422]

Mother gorillas keep their babies close!

[@laurabrawner9072]

Think I’m in love!!!! What an adorable baby!!! ♥️♥️♥️

[@BillieBailey-th3lc]

BLESS Kweli!❤❤❤

[@cashew515]

Does this happen when the Mothers have a General Anaesthetic? Is this a regular occurrence?

[@Kim-lc3fv]

Did you used to work at Cincinnati Zoo about 10 years ago? If so, I remember you from that period. There was also a baby at that time whom you & staff had to care for.

[@KathyPrendergast-cu5ci]

That was Gladys, who was adopted and raised by one of the female gorillas in that zoo’s troop. She’s still there.

[@LouisvilleZoo]

Yes, Ron formerly worked with Gladys at the Cincinnati Zoo!

[@katherinemoorhead338]

OMG can I volunteer? I'm a primate whisperer

[@darlenemc3586]

precious!

[@DarlaineGermain-qz4vg]

💕❤️🥰

[@LaurenAmmons]

Is the Louisville zoo getting moose and bison?

[@LouisvilleZoo]

Bison are anticipated to be part of our next expansion in the Kentucky Trails habitats along with other native species!

[@LaurenAmmons]

@@LouisvilleZoo thank you for the notification

[@TheBestofGenX]

How do I volunteer to be a foster human?

[@AlexisAlex-m8r]

Maybe it is because the mama gorillas don't want for her baby to grow up in a small, square footaged, crowded habitat home. All zoos need to stop the reproduction of babies' gorillas until all zoos provide and create bigger square footage spaces for these beautiful magnificent gorillas. They need and deserve more room to be able to move freely 🧐😠😡🤬

[@KathyPrendergast-cu5ci]

Most mother gorillas in zoos raise their babies just fine, now.

[@LouisvilleZoo]

Hello, Our gorillas at the Louisville Zoo have a 4-acre outdoor sanctuary as well as multiple interior areas for rotation, enrichment and exploration! We are also a part of the gorilla SAFE program which stands for Saving Animals From Extinction. This program is designed to partner with other Zoos and entities around the world to protect gorillas in Zoos and in the wild. In turn, this helps secure the future of this endangered species.

[@BillieBailey-th3lc]

@@LouisvilleZoo It seems the mother wanted a different, better situation for her baby! It has left me concerned about the conditions at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo!