Born on October 26, 2021, Kayembe is the first-ever Western Lowland gorilla born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. His name means “extraordinary,” reflecting his unique life story.
When his birth mother, N’neka, could not care for him, the troop’s matriarch, Fredrika (“Freddy”), stepped up as a surrogate. Astonishingly, Freddy began lactating and nursing him, a rare occurrence given her age and medical history.
Kayembe’s challenging start required groundbreaking human intervention, including training his birth mother to provide colostrum for his health.
Today, Kayembe is a healthy and playful young male who enjoys bonding with his father, Mokolo, and acting as a big brother to the younger infants in the troop. His remarkable story continues to drive awareness and funding for gorilla conservation.
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