The rising Gorilla population of Jersey.. A new Jersey-Born Gorilla baby: The last 2 years has seen the birth of 3 Gorilla babies in Jersey Zoo. The latest addition to the family came this October-'Zaira' a female baby, of ther 'Jambo' from Basle Zoo, Switzerland, and mother, Nandi resident fo Jersey Zoo. Father Jambo has sired all three Jersey babies-he was invited to Jersey especially for this purpose. His harem consists of N'Pongo and Nandi. N'Pongo has produced male baby Mamfe, and Nandi gave birth to the first baby, abother make, Assumbo, in July '72, so Zaire is her second baby. All the babies are having as much care and attention lavisehd on them as human babies-a;; in the interests of science as much as Gorillas. Neither mother was bale to suckle their young, so the babies have had to be hand reared by foster human parents. The care of these forilla babies has been accompanied by intensive behavioural studies, and physical growth checks, by specialists whose researches will be compared with similar studies of human babies. Clinical studies, necessitate hygenic condtions, so the babies wear nappies, are spoon fed, washed and baby oiled-then to test their intelligenct and manipulative skills they are let loose on their toys. As the babies have to be removed from their real mother to be fed and observed, and as the contact with a 'mother figure' is so important to the well being and healthy development of the babies, each is alloted a foster mother. the human foster mother has a busy and demanding time, it's a full time occupation, Zaire's foster mother is Mrs. Gillian Pook, wife of one of the Zoo keepers. After a few months the baby will be passedover to the care of Jeremy Usher Smith who has looked after Zaire's brothers since birth. Zaire is so named as tribute to President Mobutu, who is doing so much to protect the wildlife of Zaire, and also to commemorate. Photo shows The babies at Jersye Zoo.
Photo measures 8 x 10 inches.
Photo is dated --None.
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