The Miracle of Birth…Welcome Moke
Moke is born at Smithsonian Zoo
Perhaps you missed the arrival of Moke at the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, D.C. Who is Moke, you may ask, and why is this birth important?
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered with only an estimated 100,000 left. Calaya, a western lowland gorilla, who has just given birth to her first offspring, a male named Moke, at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. The arrival of Moke, which means “junior” or “little one” in the Lingala language of Africa, is the zoo’s first such gorilla birth in nine years. (Credit BBC news…Smithsonian)
This is what we learned from two videos posted below. Be sure to watch both. In fact, I would recommend to gather around your young children and let them see the miracle of birth…for it should not be a mystery.
Video 1: History of Calaya and the silverback gorilla who is the father of Moke
Video 2: The actual birth of Moke
As I watched this birth video, it was impressive to see her so gently clean her newborn and tenderly lay it in the hay. It appears that she will be a good mother.
We wish the new mother, Calaya, and her new baby, Moke, the best of health and long life.
