Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2022

Gorilla Update/Naming Competition

Born to his mother Nneka, 23, and his father Mokolo, 34. on Oct. 26, the male baby gorilla has been cared for by the troop’s eldest female, Fredrika, 47, after she instinctively took over maternal care of the newborn when Nneka did not show appropriate maternal care.

Now that he's settled into the gorilla habitat, the little one needs a name, which the public can vote on.

The zoo has announced three name finalists and their meanings:
  • Bakari, “One who will succeed”
  • Jabari, “Fearless or brave one”
  • Kayembe, “Extraordinary”
 
New gorilla exhibit announcement is on Tuesday.

I like what I'm seeing with this announcement! I'm not going to be pedantic about the whole moat thing, as long as inventive exhibit design and animal welfare are the utmost priority. Which, definitively, the latter is.
 

From the CMZ YouTube channel.

I find it beautifully poetic that the next significant addition to the CMZ adds on to the Rainforest, which was the cutting-edge exhibit that elevated CMZ 30 years ago. While I find it hard to discern too much from the video, it looks incredible in the right kind of way.

My only nitpick (so far) is the lack of verticality for the orangutans. Given their arboreal nature, I'd like to see more than two levels for a new exhibit. Still, a new exhibit is an immense improvement over the current one - maybe there will be some greenery!

Assuming the orangutans will not occupy the dome anymore, any ideas what might take their place? Or will the dome be attached to their new exhibit? That'd be really cool.
 
This will be complete by 2032. They do not have all the plans yet. Additional zoo construction projects will occur during this. The tropical bear renovation that will begin this summer is an example. It will not have a regional theme. It will have more of a whimsical theme because the sloth bears and Andean bears will rotate habitats and are from different continents. This information comes from the most recent Cleveland Metroparks board meeting.

Board Meeting Archives | Cleveland Metroparks
 

From the CMZ YouTube channel.

I find it beautifully poetic that the next significant addition to the CMZ adds on to the Rainforest, which was the cutting-edge exhibit that elevated CMZ 30 years ago. While I find it hard to discern too much from the video, it looks incredible in the right kind of way.

My only nitpick (so far) is the lack of verticality for the orangutans. Given their arboreal nature, I'd like to see more than two levels for a new exhibit. Still, a new exhibit is an immense improvement over the current one - maybe there will be some greenery!

Assuming the orangutans will not occupy the dome anymore, any ideas what might take their place? Or will the dome be attached to their new exhibit? That'd be really cool.
Are both the gorilla and orangutan exhibits going to be completely indoors?
 
Back
Top