Salt Lake City residents can issue their congratulations to Pele, a western lowland gorilla at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, after she gave birth to a baby boy on May 30.
The infant, named Addo, was born naturally, and both mother and son are reported to be in good health. Zoo officials say Pele already seems to be a caring and vigilant mother.
The small family also includes a 32-year-old silverback male named Husani, who heads the Utah gorilla troop.
Pele, 22, joined Utah’s gorilla troop two years ago from Tampa’s Busch Gardens as a part of the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which paired her with Husani for healthy, genetically diverse breeding. The accredited zoo program aims to strengthen the greater gorilla population.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Western lowland gorilla baby Addo rests on his mother Pele's chest at Utah's Hogle Zoo on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The infant was born on May 30, 2024.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Addo snoozes on his mother Pele's chest at Utah's Hogle Zoo on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Western lowland gorillas like Pele are the smallest of the four gorilla subspecies and are critically endangered. They are naturally found in Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea, where illegal poaching, habitat loss, and mining threaten the population.
Pele’s successful delivery marked progress and hope for gorilla conservation. The 2-week-old’s name comes from the African-Ga language of Ghana and means “King of the Road.” The name describes the baby gorilla that zoo officials proudly refer to as “strong” and “remarkable.”
Visitors are now welcome to see Addo, Pele, Husani, and the other gorillas in their enclosure at the Hogle Zoo’s Great Apes exhibit.
The best times to visit are right at 9 a.m. for opening or at 11:15 a.m., when the troop enjoys their late morning snack, officials said.
