FORT WORTH, Texas—The Fort Worth Zoo is celebrating its second birth of a western lowland gorilla. The male primate was born early Sunday Nov. 6, to proud parents Gracie and Elmo.   

The yet-to-be-named ape is staying close to his mother as he meets other troop members and gets acclimated to his surroundings in the zoo’s habitat. Mom and baby continue to bond and integrating into the troop, mimicking family dynamics in the wild. The new baby is in both indoor or outdoor areas of the habitat at various times during the day, depending on weather and his activity level.  

Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because of hunting and disease. Gorillas also have an alarmingly low reproductive rate, so even if there was a drastic decline in hunting and disease, it could take decades for population recovery to occur in optimistic scenarios. The zoo takes part in a cooperative breeding program for gorillas that maintains a healthy, self-sustaining population of the vulnerable species to help prevent their extinction.  

The zoo is incredibly proud to share this conservation success with the community during its 30th anniversary of the “new Zoo in ’92.”

For three decades, the Fort Worth Zoological Association’s (FWZA) dedication to conservation efforts has ensured that new generations of species around the world continue to thrive, while generations of families have enjoyed a world of animals right here in Fort Worth.