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13/10/2016
Critically Endangered Western Gorilla Born At Belfast Zoo
A critically endangered Western lowland gorilla has been born at Belfast Zoo.
The latest arrival was born to mother, Namoki, and father, Gugas, on 28 August 2016.
Newborn gorillas cling to their mother's stomach for the first few months and zookeepers have only recently been able to discover that the infant is a girl who they have named Olivia.
Father, Gugas, is Belfast Zoo's silverback gorilla. He was born in the wild but had an unfortunate start to life as his parents were killed, probably for bushmeat. As a young, orphaned gorilla, he was acquired by a Portuguese circus and became very ill. He was abandoned at the gates of Lisbon Zoo and was then moved to Stuttgart Zoo to live in a nursery group for orphaned gorillas. He arrived at Belfast Zoo in 1998 and is genetically very important to the European breeding programme as he is under-represented in the zoo population.
Western lowland gorillas come from the dense forests of western central Africa.
(CD)
The latest arrival was born to mother, Namoki, and father, Gugas, on 28 August 2016.
Newborn gorillas cling to their mother's stomach for the first few months and zookeepers have only recently been able to discover that the infant is a girl who they have named Olivia.
Father, Gugas, is Belfast Zoo's silverback gorilla. He was born in the wild but had an unfortunate start to life as his parents were killed, probably for bushmeat. As a young, orphaned gorilla, he was acquired by a Portuguese circus and became very ill. He was abandoned at the gates of Lisbon Zoo and was then moved to Stuttgart Zoo to live in a nursery group for orphaned gorillas. He arrived at Belfast Zoo in 1998 and is genetically very important to the European breeding programme as he is under-represented in the zoo population.
Western lowland gorillas come from the dense forests of western central Africa.
(CD)
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Belfast Zoo reopens farm area
Belfast Zoo has reopened the rare breeds farm area for the bank holiday weekend after a prolonged period of closure. The zoo farm area, particularly popular with younger visitors, has been closed as part of the precautions taken at the zoo since the foot-and-mouth outbreak in February.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
