Name chosen for new baby gorilla at Bristol Zoo Gardens - 05/10/11
The baby western lowland gorilla born at Bristol Zoo Gardens last week has been named Kukeña.
The name, pronounced ‘Kookenga’, means ‘to love’ and comes from the language of the Lunda Tribe from North West Zambia. The tribe originates from the Congo, where Western Lowland Gorillas are found in the wild.
The name was picked live on air on BBC1’s The One Show this week, from names submitted by viewers. The name Kukeña was chosen by Nina Wadia who plays Zainab Masood in EastEnders.
The One Show also made a short film about Bristol Zoo’s baby gorilla, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015tykx until Monday October 10, 2011.
Kukeña was born just over a week ago, on Tuesday September 27, by natural birth to Salome, and both mother and baby are doing well.
The youngster is the perfect gift for the Zoo, which this year celebrates its 175th birthday and is participating the European Zoo Association’s Ape Campaign, which aims to raise funds and awareness of the threats facing gorillas in the wild.
Senior Curator of Animals, John Partridge, said: “Salome and Kukeña continue to do well – Kukeña is bright-eyed and alert and we have observed the baby suckling well on numerous occasions, which is a very good sign.
“It is still too early to determine the sex of the baby as Salome keeps it very close and we are keen to give the gorillas space. Therefore we wanted a unisex name that would suit either a baby boy or girl, and Kukeña has a lovely meaning.”
He added: “Salome continues to demonstrate good mothering behaviour and it is lovely to see her cradling and cuddling her baby affectionately. Naturally the gorilla keepers will keep a very close eye on mother and baby in these crucial first few weeks to ensure that they, along with the rest of the gorilla group, are healthy, content and bonding well.”
To see a video of the new baby filmed shortly after it was born, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgQepJ2il30
This is the third baby Salome has had at Bristol Zoo. Her last baby, Komale, was born in December 2006 following a course of ground-breaking fertility treatment, pioneered by Bristol Zoo’s former head vet, Sharon Redrobe. This time however, Salome conceived her baby naturally.
As well as Salome and her baby, Bristol Zoo Gardens is also home to silverback Jock, who is father to Kukeña; Namoki, six; Komale, four; Kera; seven and Romina, the Zoo’s other adult female gorilla.
The gorillas at Bristol Zoo are part of an international conservation breeding programme for the western lowland gorilla, which is a critically endangered species.
All gorilla species are facing serious losses in the wild caused by a number of issues including forest destruction for logging, diseases such as ebola and the slaughter of primates for the illegal bushmeat trade.
Bristol Zoo Gardens has, for many years, supported Ape Action Africa, a charity working hard to prevent primate extinction in Cameroon, through caring for confiscated orphans of the bushmeat trade, and educating people about the bushmeat trade and habitat destruction.
Kukeña is now available to adopt by members of the public at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/adoptions or by phoning 0117 974 7300.
ENDS
For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo:
Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306 or E: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk
Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309 or E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk
Notes to the Editor:
Bristol Zoo Gardens
· Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
· Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work.
· In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
· Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
· Throughout 2011 we’re bring people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
· Bristol Zoo has supported and been actively in gorilla conservation in Cameroon since 1998.
· Throughout 2011 we will be focusing our efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation.
· Throughout 2011 Bristol Zoo will support theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.The campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo.
· To find out more about the EAZA Ape Campaign visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
· Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
· It employs over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
· Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
· In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
· Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
