Audubon Zoo Announces Critically Endangered Gorilla is Pregnant
Exciting news from Audubon Zoo’s World of Primates: One of the Zoo’s critically endangered western lowland gorillas is expecting!
This pregnancy is the result of successful breeding between 18-year-old Tumani and Okpara, a 32-year-old silverback gorilla. The infant is due to arrive in mid-February and Audubon’s animal care team is watching the mother-to-be closely as they await the birth.
The infant will be welcomed by the rest of the Zoo’s gorilla troop: females Alafia and Praline, who was born at Audubon Zoo in 1996. This is Tumani’s second pregnancy, unfortunately she had an unexpected medical condition with her first pregnancy and the infant did not survive.
Audubon Zoo’s gorillas are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The Gorilla Species Survival Plan manages 343 gorillas in 49 North American zoos to ensure a genetically diverse population and the long-term sustainability of the species.
Updates on Tumani’s pregnancy and a virtual baby registry can be found at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/tumanis-baby-gorilla-registry
By making a baby registry donation, the public can help provide enrichment for the baby and the Zoo’s entire troop. Gorillas require daily enrichment that promotes natural behaviors like nesting, tool use, and climbing.
“Each gorilla birth plays a critical role in the conservation of the species. Our dedicated team is monitoring Tumani around-the-clock, and we are all excited to welcome this new infant. Protecting gorillas and ensuring their future remains at the heart of our mission,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Audubon Nature Institute’s Chief Executive Officer and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership.
The Zoo will host a gorilla party on Saturday January 31, 2026, to celebrate the upcoming arrival and mother-to-be Tumani’s 19th birthday. Activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and will include special enrichment for the troop, keeper chats, and games to guess the size of a baby gorilla and more.
Many gorilla populations have declined or disappeared over the past few decades. Western lowland gorillas have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered, with a population decline of more than 80%, mainly due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss, and an increase in poaching.