Raising gorillas : the story of Kwisha and Kwizera

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Summary

Kwisha and Kwizera were born in 1988, the last offspring of the Brookfield Zoo's gorilla leader, Samson. The infants had to be removed for medical care, and upon their return, were rejected by thei...

Kwisha and Kwizera were born in 1988, the last offspring of the Brookfield Zoo's gorilla leader, Samson. The infants had to be removed for medical care, and upon their return, were rejected by their respective mothers. In a 14-month program to reintroduce the infants into the gorilla group, the infants were raised in the gorilla holding area to familiarize them with the sights, smells and sounds of their future home, tended by a human in a gorilla suit, and allowed contact with other gorillas through a mesh door. Though the actual reintroduction was tentative at first, both infants were successfully reunited with the gorilla social group. Gorilla behaviors seen include parenting, play (between infants, and between infant and adult), eating, climbing and vocalizing.

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