Results tagged “gorilla”

The SF Zoo's baby gorilla, whose mother abandoned him soon after birth, has bee christen. After a baby naming contest has the entire city holding its breath in anticipation, the winning name is... Hasani. Which means "handsome" in some nonsense language. And it isn't as fetch as "Chad" or 'Darnell" would have been. And it also means hot belly dancing, with sexy results. Anyway, the winning name was chosen by Hasani's father after selecting a yellow cantaloupe early this afternoon. We're not even going to try explaining that one. It makes little sense. Go here to learn more about how, exactly, Hasani got his name.

According to reports, "the contest runs from February 12 through March 5 and is open to children five years and older and to adults." The baby gorilla's name, however will not be picked by zoo officials; instead, "the animal's father, Oscar Jonesy, a dominant silverback gorilla, will get the final say." (The hell?) Judges will choose five names, "each attached to sticks of bamboo." The first stick Jonesy touches will be the winning name. So, you know, it chance will have a lot to do with it.

Still a baby, still (arguably) precious, here's a look at the San Francisco Zoo during a surrogate training session with the infant gorilla and her potential surrogate mom -- Bawang. If you recall his biological mother, Monifa, shunned the little guy since his birth.

      

Good news! One, we images of baby gorilla boy, who is still unnamed, that will have you squee-ing until Monday. (Really, a little baby gorilla with a stuffed gorilla is quite impressive. The above shot alone could resurrect Dian Fossey.) Two, the baby and his surrogate mother are "adapting" to each other.

The first gorilla birth in over a decade, this little tyke plays "a contributing role to the conservation efforts taking place for this critically endangered species through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (AZA, SSP)." Wee.