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Baby gorilla makes first appearance at Antwerp Zoo

20:16 03/03/2019

Baby gorilla Thandie made her first appearance out-of-doors last week during record temperatures that coaxed Antwerp Zoo’s animals into the sunshine. Thandie was born last November to mother Mayani and father Matadi.

While the baby as first stuck close to her mother, she eventually put her feet in the grass and began to explore the totally new world. At three months, Thandie is still usually hanging on to Mayani and continues to nurse. Thandie is currently growing her first tooth, however, and is expected to start showing interest in eating some solids with the rest of the group this spring.

The zoo's gorillas belong to the Western lowlands subspecies of the Western gorilla. While all species and subspecies of gorillas are endangered in the wild, the Western gorilla is considered critically endangered. It is native to Congo, Cameroon and several other countries in western Africa.

Written by Flanders Today