It's A Girl! Lincoln Park Zoo Names New Gorilla Patty
By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 13, 2012 9:40PM
Lincoln Park Zoo staff have identified the sex of the zoo's newest endangered western lowland gorilla, and it's a girl! Patty was born Oct. 11 to 17-year-old Bana, and since the birth, Bana and Patty have been a tight-knit duo.
“Bana is being a really great mom. She is doing exactly what we hoped she would do which is tenderly cuddle, nurse and care for her baby,” explained Maureen Leahy, curator of primates at the zoo. “There has been no reason for animal care staff to handle the baby so we’ve just had to wait patiently for Bana to give us a close look at the infant.”
“She is named Patty in honor of Patty Meyers, mother of Sally Meyers Kovler and mother-in-law of Jonathan Kovler, a Lincoln Park Zoo Life Trustee,” said Lincoln Park Zoo President & CEO Kevin Bell. “The Kovler family is a long-standing and exceptionally generous supporter of Lincoln Park Zoo and its animals and facilities.”
Researchers say since the birth, Bana has been working more on the Regenstein Center's touchscreen computers, but earlier had showed little interest in them. Now they say she is more confident in approaching researchers.
See our previous post for more photos and video of Bana and Patty.