Extremely rare set of western lowland gorilla twins turn two!

ATLANTA– Oct. 31, 2007 – Zoo Atlanta’s extremely rare set of gorilla twins turned two-years old today.  The twins born on Oct. 31, 2005, to mom, 23-year-old Kuchi and dad, 18-year-oldTaz, are thriving and becoming more independent, although Kuchi still keeps them within arms’ reach.

“Kuchi is a very protective mother and this is particularly evident with the twins.  When they are outside, she rarely allows them more than two or three feet from her, said Dr. Tara Stoinski, Zoo Atlanta’s Manager of Conservation Partnerships. “Keeping them in such close proximity is a very effective means of ensuring their safety while minimizing the time that she has to spend running after them. However, in their night quarters, Kuchi allows the twins to explore more and they are often seen playing with other group members, including their father.”

Zoo Atlanta celebrated this morning with a small party.  There were special “cakes” for Kali and Kazi made of frozen juice and carrots and a real birthday cake for the public.  

The birth of gorilla twins is extremely rare. Only seven incidences of twin gorilla births in North American Zoos have been recorded since 1966, with only three sets surviving. Kali and Kazi are the only twins in a captive population to be entirely mother-reared.

Guests can currently visit Kali and Kazi and two other gorilla babies Macy Baby and Gunther in The Ford African Rain Forest. Seventeen gorillas have been born and mother-reared at Zoo Atlanta since 1988. With a total of 23 western lowland gorillas, Zoo Atlanta cares for the second largest gorilla collection in North America including four gorillas that are over 40 years of age and considered geriatric.

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