CLEVELAND — As Jameela the baby gorilla continues making connections amid a fostering effort at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo just a few weeks after her arrival from Fort Worth, officials provided an update Friday saying she's "had such an amazing journey."
"We’re still keeping in mind if the gorillas need that privacy and having the flexibility based on their terms if we can have public come see them or not," explains Associate Animal Curator Laura Klutts. "This weekend looks like it’s going to be some great weather, so fingers crossed. The gorillas are doing so well that we’ll be able to give them access to their outdoor habitat. It will be the first time that Jameela will get to go outside with the gorilla family."
You can watch the latest update on Jameela in the video below:
Klutts says Fredrika "Freddy" is doing an amazing job taking on the care of Jameela full time.
"We still ask Freddy to participate in her training, so she comes over for those co-op bottle feeds just so we can make sure that Jameela is getting everything that she needs and is staying happy and healthy," Klutts adds.
Kayembe, who was born at the Cleveland Zoo back in October 2021, is still nursing with Freddy as well.
"It’s more so for the comfort to make sure everybody knows that Freddy is still his mom, too," Klutts says while saying they're seeing simultaneous nursing.
"Freddy is just being an amazing rock star," Klutts says.
Jameela’s arrival in Cleveland was announced late last month.
Zoo officials said her birth in early January made international headlines after life-threatening complications threatened the health of her mother, Sekani, requiring an emergency cesarean -- the first in Fort Worth Zoo’s history.
“Unfortunately, Sekani and other female gorillas at Fort Worth Zoo did not show maternal behaviors that would indicate a successful bond with Jameela,” according to the zoo’s previous announcement. “After attempts to introduce Jameela into the Fort Worth Zoo’s gorilla troop, it was collectively determined that her next best step is a move to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo where every effort will be made to successfully integrate her into their troop.”
Zoo officials previously said the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) has been advising and supporting the Fort Worth team since Jameela was born “and ultimately determined that Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was the next best opportunity for Jameela to find a foster gorilla.”
Jameela's arrival comes as zoo officials say Cleveland’s troop had recent success in gorilla fostering after the eldest female quickly adopted Kayembe in 2021 after his birth mother “similarly didn’t display proper maternal care.”
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s gorilla troop was also featured internationally last fall on Netflix’s “Baby Animal Cam” and “Baby Gorilla Cam.”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF JAMEELA FROM 3NEWS...
- 'She's doing tummy time': Cleveland Metroparks Zoo shares update on baby gorilla Jameela
- Baby gorilla Jameela arrives in Cleveland after transferring from Fort Worth Zoo
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to foster 11-week-old gorilla from Fort Worth Zoo
- Baby gorilla born prematurely at Fort Worth Zoo needs new surrogate mother, officials say