Colorado Springs – Visitors to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo over the weekend got their first peek at the zoo’s newest addition: a baby gorilla.
The still-unnamed female was born Jan. 31 at the zoo’s Primate World, which remained closed for the past two weeks. The zoo reopened the facility for visitors over the weekend, and officials say mom Asha is proving to be a proud parent.
In between nursing the baby, Asha spent much of Saturday carrying her up to a window in her habitat area so visitors could get a good look.
“She’s the biggest showoff in the group,” zoo public relations manager Sean Anglum said. “She’s proud of what she’s got.”
The baby is only the second gorilla born at the zoo in the past 10 years. Zoo officials say because the baby is female, she may remain at the zoo for the rest of her life. Her father, a giant named Rafiki, wouldn’t allow another male to remain with the group.
While Asha seems to enjoy showing off her baby, Rafiki hasn’t been quite as welcoming, spending much of the day Saturday glaring at visitors. Anglum called him “476 pounds of scowl.”
