11/19/2023 0 Comments Gladys porter zoo hours operationTom deMaar, Senior Veterinarian at the Gladys Porter Zoo. “Our alpha male Mbundi should be very proud of his troop with three new babies, a full house,” says Dr. However, Penney and her baby were returned successfully to the group last week, and the entire gorilla family has meshed extremely well. Penney is being a good mother, but she and her newborn were temporarily separated from the troop because Penney’s sister, Martha, has taken the other gorilla moms’ babies in the past. So, the entire AZA gorilla population benefits from this wane! The sex of the baby has not yet been positively determined. So, it did not occur to Zoo staff that she would conceive on her own, although the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) was hopeful she would produce more offspring.Ī local OBGYN explained that even in humans, pituitary tumors – and the effect they have on reproduction – wax and wane. Since then, despite multiple treatments, she had not become pregnant. Patrick Burchfield.Īside from the newest addition, Penney has only one living offspring, Samantha, who is now very close to 14 years of age and resides at Albuquerque Biological Park. Thanks to a 45-day, targeted treatment, she was able to reproduce once after the tumor diagnosis was made,” said Gladys Porter Zoo Director, Dr. “Years ago, when evaluating Penney for her lack of reproductive success, it was discovered that she had a tumor on her pituitary gland that, in turn, raised her prolactin levels, making it difficult for her to conceive. Not only were the night keepers shocked but so was the entire Zoo staff, especially the Zoo’s medical team. Night keepers at the Zoo were astonished to find Penney cradling a newborn in her arms as they were making their usual rounds on Thursday evening. What a surprise! Say hello to the Gladys Porter Zoo’s new miracle baby… a baby gorilla! Penney, a 33-year-old female gorilla, to everyone’s surprise, gave birth to a healthy baby on Thursday, August 20th!
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