The Los Angeles Zoo announced on Thursday the birth of two healthy baby chimpanzees, marking the first chimp births at the zoo in over a decade. The newborns, both girls, are bonding with their mothers, Yoshi and Vindi, at the zoo’s Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains habitat.
The first baby was born on August 20 to 35-year-old Yoshi and 26-year-old Pu’iwa, making it Yoshi’s third offspring and Pu’iwa’s first. The second infant arrived on September 9 to 18-year-old first-time mom Vindi. Both infants are thriving, according to zoo officials.
Candace Sclimenti, the zoo’s curator of mammals, expressed excitement about the births, stating, “These are significant births for the zoo and both are welcome additions to the dynamic, multi-male, mixed-age troop which closely mirrors the species’ natural social structure in the wild.” The zoo participates in the Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program aimed at sustaining the endangered species through genetic diversity.
Chimpanzees, native to Africa, face threats such as poaching and deforestation, which have led to their classification as endangered. The zoo’s habitat offers enrichment features and multiple viewing areas, though viewing of the new infants may be limited initially.
Megan Fox, senior animal keeper at the zoo, noted the joy of seeing Yoshi as a mother again and Vindi embracing her new role. She said, “It’s exciting to have these new additions to the troop, and they are adding a whole new social dynamic to the troop.”
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