All creatures should live in their natural habitat but sadly the danger they face in the wild has confined some species to survival in captivity.
Scientists struggle to conserve some specimens and therefore get excited every time a new birth occurs.
This was the case in early September at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans (United States), where a baby western lowland gorilla arrived in the world to become the first primate of this species born there in the last 24 years.
All the caretakers and authorities at the site were happy with this excellent news. Tumani, a western lowland gorilla who has lived at the site for 13 years, saw the birth of her first calf.
“We are thrilled to share this birth with our New Orleans community and contribute to conservation efforts for this critically endangered species,” the Zoo posted on its website.
The mother hugged and kissed him nonstop.
Although the authorities announced that Tumani and her baby son were in good health, misfortune struck days later. Less than a week after his birth, the miracle baby passed away.
A hard blow for everyone, especially for the mother: “I will love you forever”.
As reported by Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman, the zoo took every precaution to make the birth a success. Several doctors, including the Species Survival Plan’s Gorilla Birth Management Team, were part of the process and prepared Tumani for motherhood.
However, on the afternoon of September 10, the keepers noticed that the baby looked quite lethargic and decided to transfer him to the zoo hospital but he did not hold on.
Although unfortunate, this is not unusual for gorilla moms.
Dr. MacLean, Audubon’s senior veterinarian, explained that there are risks associated with the birth of first offspring and this is what caused Tumani to lose her baby.
“It’s not unusual for a first-time gorilla mother to lose a calf,” MacLean said.
Tumani said goodbye to her baby with a hug.
For his part, the zoo director said he was heartbroken by the loss but they plan to continue working on animal conservation projects.
“This has been a work in progress for many years, from the introduction of the new troop members to the announcement of the birth, everyone involved has worked tirelessly. I am proud of our team. We will continue to contribute to the conservation of this amazing species,” said Forman.
For this mommy it was a tough blow, even though some people doubt the maternal instinct that animals can develop, it is true that love transcends reason in any species. We hope that the zoo will take the best measures to help her in her grief and that soon there will be news of a new birth.
Life can sometimes be a little unfair and today Tumani took the worst part, share this sad news and send your support to everyone at the zoo.
Source: https://favgalaxy.com
