“The birth of both gorilla infants and the visit of Jane Goodall were extraordinary moments for us. Jane, who incidentally celebrates her birthday just a few days before Gaia, left a huge impression on the visitors and staff of Zoo Prague. Every time I go to see Gaia, I recall Jane's enthusiasm and tirelessness. I believe her legacy, which is present here not only in the name of Gaia, is an inspiration for many of us,” says Zoo Prague Director Miroslav Bobek.
Gaia is becoming increasingly confident in walking on the ground and climbing on ropes and structures. When she is not sleeping or resting on her mother Kijivu's back, she plays with her sister Mobi.
“Unlike older Mobi, she is more cautious and still tends to stay close to her mother. While Mobi is more of a little rascal – Gaia is the angel,” says head primate keeper Martin Vojáček. “They wrestle in play, and then both laugh loudly with their mouths wide open, showing all their teeth,” describes Vojáček.
Jane Goodall, who celebrated her 91st birthday this month, named Gaia after the Greek goddess of the earth and a young chimpanzee living in Gombe. This chimp is now the last animal from the family line tracing back to the very first troop that Jane Goodall studied and bonded with in Tanzania in the 1960s. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Zoo Prague
Both infants can still be easily distinguished. The older Mobi, who is a quarter of a year older, is larger, and her mother Duni still maintains her “hairstyle” by plucking hairs from her head. In contrast, Kijivu does not interfere with her fifth infant's hairstyle for the first time. Initially, Gaia was unusually quick to catch up with her sister in development and copied all her progress, but recently she has shown a milder temperament and stands out for her calmness compared to previous infants.
In addition to her mother and sister, she is also building a relationship with her father Kisumu, who enjoys playing gently with the infants, as well as with the oldest member of the group, Kamba, who gladly welcomes the interest of both infants. Unlike Mobi, Gaia does not yet seek play with their roommates – the guereza monkeys.
The games of the gorilla sisters are currently one of the most attractive sights at Zoo Prague. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Zoo Prague
Although Gaia will be nursed for about three years, she is already happily tasting everything like an adult. “She particularly enjoys sweet vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, or carrots. However, she is still hesitant to accept food directly from us keepers. Often, she also prefers to sleep during feeding times. As she grows, her habits will gradually change, and Gaia will adapt to the daily rhythm of life in the entire troop.”
Zoo Prague invites visitors to celebrate Gaia's first birthday in the Dja Reserve pavilion on Saturday, April 12. From 10 AM to 1 PM, there will be guided meetings with the gorillas every hour, and at 3 PM, the keepers will prepare special enrichment for the gorillas. In the African classroom, not only young visitors will be able to make wishes for Gaia and play educational games about gorilla conservation in Central Africa.
Generally, the best time to observe lowland gorillas during feeding is around 10 AM and 3 PM. In nice weather, they also visit the outdoor enclosure.
