Zoo Atlanta
May 16, 2023
Hello friends and fans of the Atlanta Zoo! I’m Kaitlyn Gorilla Care is his one of the new members of his team. I’m one of the newest humans on the team, but I’m not new to Gorilla Building. We are so excited to share about Willy B. III, the newest member of our gorilla family, and how his family is responding to his arrival.
With the arrival of Sharia and Willie B. Jr.’s first child on April 24, we can assure you that there is no better way to start a new career. The Gorilla Care team was pleasantly surprised by his arrival as they had expected him to debut in May. Sharia made her birth look like a walk in the park. Not only was she calm, cool, and composed all morning before she gave birth, but all day she kept her posture and gave birth without any problems surrounded by her peers. As a new mom myself, I was in awe of her resilience and her natural abilities. Gorillas are truly one of the most amazing animals.
This is Sharia’s second baby, so it’s not her first time being a mother, but for the rest of her squad, these are uncharted territory. Her new father, Willie B. Jr., continues to take a cautious interest in the little bundle that never leaves Sharia’s arms, something many new fathers can relate to. At first, the new dad was hesitant to be in the same space as the toddler and only observed from a distance. But recently, we observed him from a closer distance and noticed that he even seems to be leaning over and staring directly at the baby. Of course, this caused many happy tears and squeals of joy from the guys on the team. It is very important for Willie B. Jr. to experience his journey to becoming a father. That’s not only because he’s a favorite of most care teams, but also because of the legacy that the birth of his son carried on.
You might be wondering how “Auntie” Kanbera and Amari react. This birth is important for many reasons, one of which is that it provides an opportunity for other girls to experience infant parenting. Motherhood is difficult enough without learning on the job, so it is important for gorilla squads that females can gain experience watching mothers and squad members raise babies. We hope that Canberra will take an interest in Willie B. III in particular, learn from her supermom Sharia, and be ready to take care of her own baby when her time comes. Amari took an immediate interest in the baby and started following Sharia from her first day. She is often found staring over her shoulder at Sharia, watching her baby sleep or nurse. Mama is very tolerant of Amari’s interests, but she gently turns her away when Amari gets too close. Kanbera didn’t show much interest at first, but lately she’s been sitting near Sharia and she’s been sneaking a peek at the baby when she thinks no one is watching. She can pretend she doesn’t think Willie B. III is the prettiest she’s ever seen, but we all know you love him too, Canberra!
Stay tuned for the latest family group updates as we continue to monitor as the whole family adjusts to this new life. Stop by Gorilla Her Habitat 4 on your next visit and you’re sure to find proud mother Sharia cradling a bundle of joy.
Kaitlyn K.
Keeper II, Primate