Kansas City Zoo awaits a baby gorilla
A gorilla at the Kansas City Zoo is pregnant. The baby is expected sometime in June.
The zoo announced Friday that the pregnancy was confirmed with an ultrasound procedure.
The 27-year-old mother, Makari, has two previous offspring who live at other zoos. The father is a 31-year-old silverback named Radi. The gorillas are on exhibit when the temperature is 50 degrees or higher.
Makari has cooperated with the zoo veterinary staff. Go here to see an ultrasound image of the fetus.
Western lowland gorillas are an endangered species because of poaching and habitat destruction. The Kansas City Zoo has not had a gorilla birth since 1969, said zoo director Randy Wisthoff.
| Matt Campbell, mcampbell@kcstar.com
This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Kansas City Zoo awaits a baby gorilla."