Baby gorilla rejected by mom at Washington zoo now has a new home — and a happy ending

All eyes have been on the infant gorilla who was rejected by his mother at Washington’s Woodland Park Zoo in June.

Months of hand-rearing by staff finally came to a close this week, the zoo said in an Aug. 20 news release. The little one was transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, where a foster mother awaited him.

“As the baby was growing and reaching important developmental milestones, we were racing against the clock. For his long-term benefits and well-being, we couldn’t further delay the critical need for him to be cared for directly by gorillas or take the risk of him becoming imprinted on humans,” Martin Ramirez, interim senior director of animal care at Woodland Park Zoo, said in the release.

A gorilla-centric upbringing is pivotal for ensuring a baby gorilla has a normal life. They are social creatures, bonded to their mothers early on and live in complex social groups.

The 2-month-old — now named Abeo — will soon be introduced to 40-year-old foster mom Kweli.

“Kweli is a super experienced, proven mother and foster,” Ron Evans, general curator at the Louisville Zoo, said in the release.

Kweli has taken in motherless baby gorillas before with great success, Evans said. In fact, the entire gorilla pack at Louisville has experience with fosters and numerous youngsters.

“It’s a feather bed of a foster group,” Evans said.

Abeo traveled to Kentucky with Woodland staff members, who took great precautions for his safety and hygiene. A veterinarian and caretaker will stay with him in Louisville until they are confident he has transitioned fully into his new family.

“This baby gorilla will continue to be in excellent hands and grow to be a gorilla. We look forward to watching his journey from a distance,” said Ramirez.

This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Baby gorilla rejected by mom at Washington zoo now has a new home — and a happy ending."