RARE GREAT APE BORN AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO

AUGUST 17, 2004

Interview with Fernando Covarrubias, senior keeper, San Diego Zoo

Some unsuspecting guests at the San Diego Zoo on August 15 were surprised to witness the very rare birth of a great ape. The bonobo (or pygmy chimpanzee) was born in the afternoon on exhibit in front of a large viewing window. The experienced mother, Lana, immediately cleaned, cradled and nursed the infant and showed it off to an awed crowd of observers.

“Bonobos are a critically endangered species and rarely seen in zoos so witnessing a bonobo birth is really special, “ said Fernando Covarrubias, senior keeper. “Lana isn’t shy either, she readily shows off her baby to Zoo guests.”

Great ape keepers have been keeping a close eye on the mother and infant. According to keepers, the duo seems to be very healthy and doing well. The gender of the baby is not known yet, and keepers will wait until they can determine the sex before naming the newborn.

Bonobos are a rare species of chimpanzee native to the forests and lowlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Incorrectly but commonly called “pygmy chimpanzee” this species is only slightly smaller than the more commonly recognized species of chimpanzee and has dark pigmentation on its feet, hands and face. The San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park are one of the few zoological institutions in the United States to work with this species.