Photos And Video: Lincoln Park Zoo's Injured Baby Gorilla Meets Adoring Public

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 22, 2013 10:30PM

The story of Nayembi, the baby gorilla at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo who suffered serious facial injuries, reached another happy landmark Thursday when she was reintroduced to the zoo’s visitors.

Nayembi suffered a severe facial injury in February that required emergency surgery. Since then she recovered quickly and was reintroduced to her mother, Rolle, and the rest of her troop.

Earlier this week Nayembi was reintroduced to her father, silverback gorilla Kwan and zoo officials said the reunion went swimmingly. Maureen Leahy, curator of primates at Lincoln Park Zoo, said the reintroduction has gone according to plan. “The process is delicate. We are watching the gorillas’ behavior closely and their behavior guides our timing and decisions about reintroduction.”
Leahy added that integrating Nayembi back with her gorilla family is the very best thing for her.

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