She's expecting: Zoo Atlanta gorilla Kambera pregnant, due by end of 2024

July 22nd, 2024

Kambera the gorilla is shown at Zoo Atlanta. The western lowland gorilla is expecting a baby in November to December 2024. (Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

Zoo Atlanta is expected to have a new addition swinging through by the end of the year.

The facility announced on July 18 that Kambera, a 25-year-old western lowland gorilla, is expecting an infant with Willie B Jr., the only son of the late Willie B, who was one of the zoo’s most famous residents.

“We are thrilled to announce Kambera’s pregnancy,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, vice president of collections and conservation, in a press release. “Not only will this infant make an individual contribution to the long-term viability of a critically endangered species, but having two youngsters so close in age in the same troop will be a special joy.”

The Veterinary and Animal Care Teams first detected the pregnancy in April 2024, estimating the birth window of November and December of this year. As the pregnancy progresses, the teams will continue to perform prenatal ultrasounds to ensure a healthy delivery.

Kambera is one of three female gorillas, alongside 22-year-old Shalia and 13-year-old Amari, who arrived at Zoo Atlanta in 2020 to form a troop with Willie B. Jr.

The troop was arranged by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which, according to a press release from Zoo Atlanta, seeks to maintain a self-sustaining, genetically diverse gorilla population for future generations.

The release also states that western lowland gorilla populations have decreased in recent years due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade and emerging diseases.

Kambera and Willie B Jr.’s infant will be the 26th gorilla born at Zoo Atlanta, which calls itself “a pioneer in the care and study of western lowland gorillas and the home of one of the largest populations of gorillas in North America.”