gorilla

What beautiful news! 

13-year-old Tumani is excepting her very first baby! The critically endangered gorilla, who currently resides at the New Orleans' zoo, is already being trained in preparation for the bundle of joy! Tumani has been given a "doll" to care for, but since a stuffed doll doesn't look anything like a gorilla, it could be easily torn apart. 

Instead, they come up with another idea. Audubon Zoo's chief veterinarian, Dr. Robert McLean, explained that they created a "rugged section of canvas firehose tubing has been woven roughly to the proportions and weight of a 4-pound newborn gorilla."

"I haven't seen it myself, McLean continued. "Apparently it's pretty ugly but it does the job."

Tumani is a western lowland gorilla. In 2016, there was only an estimate of 362,000 in the wild, and that number falls about 2.7% a year. And according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, by 2082, those numbers might plummet to 80%. 

Unfortunately, due to diseases, such as Ebola, habitat loss, and illegal hunting, their population is plummeting quickly. 

And all the more reason to celebrate Tumani and her baby to be. We wish this mama a healthy delivery and a healthy baby! 

Story via ABC3340 News

Gorillas, the largest living primates, make their homes in central and east Africa. They function in a well-developed social structure and often exhibit behavior and emotions similar to the human experience, including laughter, sadness and... love for carrots! Check out these photos of giant Apes eating carrots and enjoying every minute of it.  

We all know according to evolution, we are descendants of apes. Yet, it's even more clear after seeing images of just one gorilla. 

Meet Anaka, who resides at the Zoo Altanta. Anaka is unique, not only in terms of skin, but in personality as well. "[She's] often barking at her mom and others to get a prime spot for food and juice," Altanta Zoo wrote on their website. "She is often seen riding piggyback on her brother and sisters."

When the Morena Lale commented on a post from the zoo, asking if Anaka had vitiligo (a skin condition characterized by loss of skin pigmentation).

The Zoo responded, "Well, her skin pigment has always been like that and hasn't changed over the years, so we think it's just a cool birthmark."

Cool, indeed!

In other news... An interesting illusion picture of a crow went viral as users began to draw what looked like a super-muscular crow, or a crows head with a gorillas body. And thus, 'Crowilla' was born! Soon enough, scientists speak up about the image and explain the strange illusion. 

This is the first fact: monkeys are the best. We can all agree on that, right? Our closest ancestors are smart, cute, sometimes scary, have adorable little hairy human hands, ugly-in-a-painfully-cute-way babies, and well, I want one as a pet. Or more like a companion, like Curious George. I could go on all day about how great monkeys are, but instead I'll give you these 20 facts that will blow. your. mind. and have you Youtubing monkeys for the rest of the work day. Sorry not sorry. 

On April 17, 2018, cameras at the Smithsonian Zoo captured a very rare moment. The moment a mother gorilla welcomed into the world a baby boy gorilla. Why is such a big deal? Well, Moke (meaning "junior" or "little one" in the Lingala language) is the first Western Lowland gorilla born in just under a decade. Proud mother Calaya was captured bonding with him moments after his birth, and we are all in love!

Gorillas aren't really known to be super photogenic. But alas... the really are! Well, at least this one. And after seeing the photos we totally understand the Clooney resemblance! Habani the gorilla or as the Japanese call him ikemen, meaning 'handsome guy' lives at the Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya, Japan and is pretty much breaking hearts! The Dutch-born, Australian-bred spends his days flexing, posing and being the center of everyones social media posts. Just take a look for yourself! 

h/t: Majestic Bunny

The Gorilla who was "giving a TED lecture" few weeks ago is becoming an internet sensation once again.