Introducing Ali at the Brookfield Zoo
Sep 26, 2018 06:36:51 #
Ali, a female, was born June 1, 2018 to mother Koola, age 23. Ali joins the four-generation family group of western lowland gorillas currently at the Brookfield Zoo in suburban Chicago. Almost 350 western lowland gorillas are now living in accredited North American zoos. The western lowland gorilla is considered critically endangered, and experts estimate there are just 200,000 living in their native West Africa habitat (the forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Congo, and Angola).
Brookfield Zoo
September 2018
Koola and baby Ali by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Gorillas weigh between 4 and 5 pounds at birth, smaller than the average human baby. Although the infant will start to sample small pieces of food at about four months old, nursing will continue until about four years old.
Baby Ali and Koola
Ali, at about 3-months. Shortly, she'll start riding on her mother’s back, and about a month later, she will begin to explore the habitat on her own while staying within an arm’s reach of Koola.
Ali - born June 1, 2018
Gorillas live in social groups comprised of one adult male, several adult females, a number of youth and infants. As they reach sexual maturity, both male and female gorillas leave their original social groups and either establish a new group or join an existing one. Nora, age 4, and step-brother Zachary, age 2.
Nora and step-brother Zachary
The group's silverback and father of all three youngsters is 35-year old JoJo. JoJo was brought over from the Lincoln Park Zoo in 2012 as part of the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), which promotes healthy breeding and population management for species. He is one of the most genetically valuable males in the SSP population and his calm temperament has been an especially good match for the adult females at Brookfield Zoo.
Papa JoJo
Also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, the Brookfield Zoo is located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo houses around 450 species of animals in an area of 216 acres. It opened on July 1st 1934 and quickly gained international recognition for using moats and ditches instead of cages to separate animals from visitors and from other animals.
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Brookfield Zoo
September 2018
Koola and baby Ali by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Gorillas weigh between 4 and 5 pounds at birth, smaller than the average human baby. Although the infant will start to sample small pieces of food at about four months old, nursing will continue until about four years old.
Baby Ali and Koola
Ali, at about 3-months. Shortly, she'll start riding on her mother’s back, and about a month later, she will begin to explore the habitat on her own while staying within an arm’s reach of Koola.
Ali - born June 1, 2018
Gorillas live in social groups comprised of one adult male, several adult females, a number of youth and infants. As they reach sexual maturity, both male and female gorillas leave their original social groups and either establish a new group or join an existing one. Nora, age 4, and step-brother Zachary, age 2.
Nora and step-brother Zachary
The group's silverback and father of all three youngsters is 35-year old JoJo. JoJo was brought over from the Lincoln Park Zoo in 2012 as part of the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), which promotes healthy breeding and population management for species. He is one of the most genetically valuable males in the SSP population and his calm temperament has been an especially good match for the adult females at Brookfield Zoo.
Papa JoJo
Also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, the Brookfield Zoo is located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo houses around 450 species of animals in an area of 216 acres. It opened on July 1st 1934 and quickly gained international recognition for using moats and ditches instead of cages to separate animals from visitors and from other animals.
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Sep 26, 2018 07:00:22 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Ali, a female, was born June 1, 2018 to mother Koo... (show quote)
Very impressive photos, Paul!
Sep 26, 2018 07:04:22 #
These are wonderful, Paul! Our Jacksonville zoo just reopened the Great Ape exhibit with a brand new area. I'm so glad the old exhibit areas are gone and zoos are so much better nowadays. Thanks for sharing and information too! I really enjoyed these.
Sep 26, 2018 07:06:47 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:07:00 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:07:55 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:10:01 #
Beautiful images. Such emotions on these faces. I am not so sure JoJo temperament is so even on this day. His expressions says, "Don't even think about it". Great work. Thanks, for sharing. I always enjoy your posts and the information that you provide about your subjects. Hope I can visit your fair city someday, if not, I can enjoy it through your very capable eyes.
Sep 26, 2018 07:21:28 #
Incredible photographs, Paul. And an excellent narrative to accompany them.
Sep 26, 2018 07:22:23 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Ali, a female, was born June 1, 2018 to mother Koo... (show quote)
Very nice photos...
Sep 26, 2018 07:25:32 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:28:07 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:29:15 #
Sep 26, 2018 07:29:36 #
I remember the first time I visited the zoo back in 1959. The trip took one "L" and two buses. It was like visiting a land of wonder. It became a biennial event for us to go to Brookfield. The other zoo, of course, was Lincoln Park. (One bus back then.) Both zoos were working to have the outdoor areas become naturalized.
Thank you for evoking fond memories with your photography.
Thank you for evoking fond memories with your photography.
Sep 26, 2018 07:31:39 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Ali, a female, was born June 1, 2018 to mother Koo... (show quote)
Paul, another awesome set and Papa JoJo looks like he means business, don't mess with me. The National Geographic recently did a story about the Chicago Zoo which was an excellent show.
Greg
Sep 26, 2018 07:35:23 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Ali, a female, was born June 1, 2018 to mother Koo... (show quote)
Terrific photos!!!
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