Post by Jeff on Dec 2, 2006 9:54:04 GMT -5
TAMPA, Fla. – A 33-year-old Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) named Kishina gave birth last November to a 5-pound male with the help of medical professionals from Tampa General Hospital. It was the first gorilla birth in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s 46-year history.
“There haven’t been very many caesarians in great apes, so to have a baby boy come out and do well was wonderful,” said veterinarian Dr. John Olsen.
The birth brings to seven the number of gorillas in the park’s Myombe Reserve® habitat, a 3-acre rainforest environment opened in 1992. Busch Gardens had been working on breeding these endangered primates for several years, but it took the introduction of two new males from the Denver Zoo in 2003 – 30-year old Koundu (Koon-doo), and his son Cenzoo (Sen-zoo), 9 – to create the right social setting for the park’s females. The transfer was part of the internationally recognized Species Survival Plan (SSP) administered by members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are intended to maintain the genetic diversity of endangered species.
While it was expected that the older silverback would breed with the park’s females, it was actually his son, Cenzoo, who paired up with Kishina to produce the
baby. When Kishina conceived, however, veterinarians were concerned that a preexisting pelvic injury might affect her ability to give birth on her own.
Associate Veterinarian Dr. Ray Ball worked closely with medical professionals from Tampa General Hospital for several months to prepare for the possibility of a C-section.
“We monitored her pregnancy very carefully,” said Ball. “We had to be prepared for every possibility, so we spent several hours observing deliveries and C-sections at Tampa General as practice in case we needed to assist Kishina. And it was obviously a good thing we did.”
The primate team also worked on trained husbandry behaviors with Kishina, behaviors such as presenting her abdomen for ultrasounds. Staff prepared her for the birth and infant care by using a “model baby” and practicing retrieving items, since this would be the first baby she has raised.
As her pregnancy came to term, veterinarians noticed Kishina was exhibiting signs of distress. An ultrasound examination revealed that the mother gorilla had placenta previa – the afterbirth was blocking the opening of the cervix, a potentially life-threatening complication. The OB-GYN team from Tampa General Hospital led by Dr. Catherine Lynch was called to the park to perform surgery. During his first 10 days of life, the baby was cared for by members of Busch Gardens’ veterinary and animal care staff, some of whom wore a shaggy vest while holding him to encourage the infant’s natural cling response.
“There haven’t been very many caesarians in great apes, so to have a baby boy come out and do well was wonderful,” said veterinarian Dr. John Olsen.
The birth brings to seven the number of gorillas in the park’s Myombe Reserve® habitat, a 3-acre rainforest environment opened in 1992. Busch Gardens had been working on breeding these endangered primates for several years, but it took the introduction of two new males from the Denver Zoo in 2003 – 30-year old Koundu (Koon-doo), and his son Cenzoo (Sen-zoo), 9 – to create the right social setting for the park’s females. The transfer was part of the internationally recognized Species Survival Plan (SSP) administered by members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are intended to maintain the genetic diversity of endangered species.
While it was expected that the older silverback would breed with the park’s females, it was actually his son, Cenzoo, who paired up with Kishina to produce the
baby. When Kishina conceived, however, veterinarians were concerned that a preexisting pelvic injury might affect her ability to give birth on her own.
Associate Veterinarian Dr. Ray Ball worked closely with medical professionals from Tampa General Hospital for several months to prepare for the possibility of a C-section.
“We monitored her pregnancy very carefully,” said Ball. “We had to be prepared for every possibility, so we spent several hours observing deliveries and C-sections at Tampa General as practice in case we needed to assist Kishina. And it was obviously a good thing we did.”
The primate team also worked on trained husbandry behaviors with Kishina, behaviors such as presenting her abdomen for ultrasounds. Staff prepared her for the birth and infant care by using a “model baby” and practicing retrieving items, since this would be the first baby she has raised.
As her pregnancy came to term, veterinarians noticed Kishina was exhibiting signs of distress. An ultrasound examination revealed that the mother gorilla had placenta previa – the afterbirth was blocking the opening of the cervix, a potentially life-threatening complication. The OB-GYN team from Tampa General Hospital led by Dr. Catherine Lynch was called to the park to perform surgery. During his first 10 days of life, the baby was cared for by members of Busch Gardens’ veterinary and animal care staff, some of whom wore a shaggy vest while holding him to encourage the infant’s natural cling response.