Imani is a 18 year old lowland gorilla at the San Diego Safari (Wild Animal) Park and this is her newborn baby delivered on March 12, 2014. (Please click to enlarge).
This is the 17th gorilla born at the Park. The baby was delivered by cesarean section and born with a collapsed lung and severe pneumonia. The neonate had surgery at birth, was treated for the pneumonia, and reunited with her mother at age 12 days.
Mama Imani has basically not put the baby down since the reunification.
Gorillas are such good mamas and could teach humans a thing or three about maternal child bonding.
The baby’s head lolls when it falls asleep. Mama is always holding baby’s hand as you can see in these pics.
Mama Imani was also a surrogate mother to Frank, now a five year old gorilla. She is still quite attached to Frank. All the park gorillas live in a troop with a silverback male leader you will see below.
Gorillas are an endangered species with approximately 100,000 left in the wild. There are however only 300 Cross River Gorillas and 720 Mountain Gorillas still alive in the wild. Mountain gorillas cannot survive in captivity, so if something dramatic isn’t done soon, they will be gone without a trace. Gorillas are poached for meat and trophies, and their habitat is being decimated. Humans of course are primates like gorillas, and we share over 99% of our DNA with our gorilla cousins.
One of the troop juveniles.
The Park is a special place. It is a non-profit organization that focuses on protecting and helping endangered species reproduce. Animals that are extinct in the wild are reproducing and being protected here until they can safely be reintroduced to the wild. It is not a zoo, with animals in cages, but a vast park where animals roam in herds and live in family groups. If you have a chance, and care about endangered animals, I would recommend a visit.
The papa, troop silverback male.
My son Matt volunteered for a year at the Institute for Conservation Research here, before going to graduate school in wildlife biology. This non-profit organization is a world leader in research for the protection of endangered species. Check it out:
http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/
http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/ICR/purpose
Cheers to you from these magnificent gorillas, our gentle, kinder cousins!
For more info check out:
http://www.saveagorilla.org/60-Questions.html
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wow, I can see their souls in these pics
like I said, wow!
Just amazing aren’t they! I can’t believe we are wiping them out in the wild. So depressing~
I would like to believe that these amazing images that you send into the world will raise consciousness…
That would be wonderful…..so many of us here are trying to do this!
What amazing photos – they’re just like us. Love the one of papa examining his nails.
Yes! Their resemblance to us is disconcerting. Papa looks like, well…..a papa! Thanks for stopping by~
Oh wow! What gorgeous creatures. There’s something so human about them: the way they look and how they care for their young. A nice read, thank you.
Yes, it is uncanny how much they resemble us, but then again they are such close cousins~
Truly wonderful loving nurturing – the beauty and sensuality in mother/baby bond is visible even in these photos. Lovely, just lovely
Awww, not surprised you see and appreciate my friend. Thank you~
😀
queste immagini sono meravigliose e toccanti, la purezza del sentimento vi traspare e così l’immensa tenerezza che fa di questa madre un essere molto speciale
grazie mille!!!
These pictures are amazing and touching, the purity of sentiment there shines through, and so the immense tenderness that makes this a very special mother
Sì! La sua adorazione del suo bambino è così evidente e così commovente. Grazie per vederlo!
Precious!
Yes! Thank you~
Wow. This is the most touching photograph. I feel so close and inside their intimate moment.
It’s just a breathtaking photograph. One day you should publish your work..
It is so lovely you felt inside their intimate moment, so did I, so I am glad you recognized this. Thank you~
The pleasure is shared. Thank-you for posting your work..
🙂
Beautiful shots Cindy and such lovely creatures. The first shot of the infant,before growing hair, looks so human. I somtimes wonder if they evolved from us as a more sane version. Cheers 😀
Oh yes! I wonder this too my friend. I wonder about the cause of so much excess human cruelty and what, if anything, we can do at this point to stop it. Gorillas can be taught sign language. Humans need to be taught to listen to them. They probably will have better answers than we do!
Quite so. The hope that I have always had is that it is only an unavoidable phase in our evoluion. At the same time our true nature keeps on being born and slowly prevails. It can be seen throughout history. It is slow compared with the span our lives, but indomitable.
~ Slouching towards Bethlehem – to be born. (Joan Didion and Joni Mitchell).
Best Wishes, Graham. :bear: .
Joan Didion is writer whose work I greatly admire. Note my daughter’s comment about me when looking for a book for me for Christmas, “She likes to read really depressing writers like Joan Didion…..” Laughing…..
Yes I guess that’s it. We’ll eventually burn out ourselves out as a species and much of the life on our planet as well, and be replaced by a more evolved iteration.
We can’t pretend we didn’t know and didn’t have ample warning…..
I enjoy talking with you Graham~
Likewise.
Although I do believe in a little more hope. I think there is more to us. It’s just that we haven’t properly found our feet/sanity yet. If you can believe in yourself, and there is clearly cause, then you can believe in your fellows. Yay
Have one of these, it knows there is everything to play for :- http://onthehomefrontandbeyond.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/monday-morning-wake-up-call-one-and-two-and-one-and-two/
Impressive images. Life leaps from the page. 🙂
Thank you my friend, hopefully these creatures will be saved so our only memory of them isn’t in photos.
I wish the same. 🙂
outstanding!
Danke Schoen!
simply outstanding!! never knew all this 🙂
I am just happy you think this & read it! Thank you~
Gorgeous. How on earth have we been so unkind to them? By the way, you captured an intimate moment in the final photo, I think? Very clever… 🙂
This is what I don’t get either. I do understand human cruelty, yes. I have seen enough of it. I understand human stupidity also. I have seen that as well. What I don’t understand is such long term, unending destructiveness, so that entire species are extinct and others on the brink and possibly the bulk of human beings
don’t even really care. This I do not understand. It is both stupid and destructive and we humans in the final analysis will be the ultimate losers.
Spectacular photos. So sweet how Imani is always holding her baby’s tiny hand. My favourite photo is the last of the silverback though, he has such a powerful expression on his face.
Isn’t he just everything! He says everything for his species. He sits and stands so powerfully, yet so gently watching over his troop, and looking so profoundly disgusted with what has happened to his species. He to me is so eloquent.
Very interesting and great photos. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you!
Cindy,thanks for sharing the photographs.
Most welcome my friend~
Such a precious little one, and beautiful creatures they all are. Thank you, Cindy for sharing this wonderful experience with us.
You, I know, respect these magnificent creatures as they deserve~
Motherhood, bonding and helping each other – they are just like us.
Yes!! But nicer, gentler and less destructive as a species than we~
Your magnificent images capture their compassion and dedication. Simply outstanding!
Awww. Thank you! Much appreciated~
Oh, Cindy, you have captured these magnificent creatures in their glory. And thank goodness we have groups like this who are doing all in their power to save these endangered lives. And bless you for bringing this into the public eye!
The blessings go to you for all you do for animals, for your concern, and for your appreciation of these creatures~
Such beautiful pictures of special moments! I wish I lived a little closer so I could go and visit, hopefully without being an intrusion! How is it set up?
I should include photos of the park itself so people could get an idea of the set up and scale. There is a vast plains area where African herding animals roam including the extinct in the wild Mongolian Ass and one of 7 remaining subspecies of white rhinos in the world! Only four of these 7 can reproduce. There is much more. There are outdoor, grass and tree filled areas for animals like the gorillas, that are separate. Next time I go there I will take photos of the set up so people can see. Visitors can view the animals like in a zoo, except sometimes you can’t find them like in the wild, because the enclosures are spacious. There is a tram that will take you around the plains. It is interesting because when we were in Africa the density of animals in the wild was much greater than the density you see in the park.
I feel kinda happy to hear that they are not exposed forcefully for the entertainment of onlookers…
I’d like to see photographs too.
I have not yet been to Africa, though do have intentions to get there some day!
ML
x
Yes, I like it also that they can hide when they choose. Africa needs to be high on your bucket list. It is a wonderland. We are planning to go again~
The are incredible animals and sad that some may one day vanish. Our loss.
Yes. Exactly. Thank you.
I had a white pomeranian for many years named Tuffy (short for T. Biffstersdadt). Tuffy had a subscrition to the New Yorker under his name, but I usually read it. One of our friends saw it and said, “Who is T. Biffstersdadt?”
I said, “Tuffy. He likes the cartoons….”
Laughing…..
God I loved that dog.
Oh my, your captures prompted deep contemplation. While these majestic animals belong in the wild, the San Diego Zoo does treat them with dignity and help to preserve their existence.
It is like a less than ideal solution given that we are pretty much unable to protect endangered animals in the wild.
Oh, these beautiful photos made my day, Cindy! I saw on the news where the mama gorilla was reunited with her baby, and I know the separation was necessary due to the baby’s health problems at birth, but I could only imagine how devastating those 12 days were to the mother. Thank goodness for places like the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It breaks my heart that we’re destroying the habitats of these magnificent creatures.
Not surprised that we are on the same page my friend, but gratified nonetheless. And yes, heartbreaking to think how helpless and afraid Imani must have been. What have the humans done with my baby? Can’t stand it. So happy it turned out like this, as clearly, Imani is too!
Amazing, touching captures, Cindy! How wonderful these animals are having a home there… Thank you so much for introducing the conservation research center to us, I will read these sites carefully.
Some day my friend, we could meet up at the park, since we are practically neighbors after all, and go on a photo safari together! What fun~
It’ll be my great pleasure to meet you, Cindy! Hope to make the trip next year… We are going to see Spain in May 🙂
🙂 Where do you actually live Amy? I thought it was around here obviously incorrectly. Sorry.
What an exciting capture – glad they grow more handsome
Yes! It was thrilling.
Amazing photos, Cindy. They are such incredible creatures, and the babies are so sweet. 🙂
Aren’t they amazing? So delicate and mama so gentle. Heartbreaking to think of people killing them~
Yes, it’s unthinkable. What dear creatures.
Once again here’s a post that nearly brings me to tears. The mama gorilla is so devoted and the baby obviously relaxed and secure. Killing these gentle creatures for human gain is just a horrible shameful thing. Congratulations to your son for the work he is doing and to you for your devotion to the same causes.
I’m with you on this one, but it gets my blood boiling too, along with killing dolphin and whales, imprisoning orcas, cutting off rhino horns, fighting dogs, and all the other senseless mayhem humans create, not even mentioning what is done to vulnerable humans and children. People like us need to stand up to the bullies. There are so many more good people in the world than bad, but the bad do the damage.
You rock my friend and I know and appreciate how much you care.
This is so sweet. Thank you for sharing, Cindy.
Thank you for appreciating~
Dang, we didn’t see the baby, but I think I recognize the papa. I love the story told by your photos.
Awww…..so glad! But sorry you missed the baby~
These are Stunning photos, Cindy!
I can’t help wondering what the gorillas were thinking. Their faces have this “serious” look. They are like philosophers who live in the wild. 🙂
Thank you Hari. I am just like you. What do they think of us? There do have serious, melancholy faces. I think they have watched us and are thinking, “what is wrong with these people???
Love how you can go from a HW to a MW (mommy watcher) – love your spirit!!!
And I love yours, and your hubby’s!
Thank you my friend.
Great pictures.
Check out this comparison: http://ronnie-s.com/2013/04/12/parenting/
Oh my God! This is IT EXATLY! I am sending this to my husband. It captures what I meant exactly! Thank you so much for telling me~
A wonderful series of photos! 🙂
Mil grazi!
Motherhood is a thing of wonder, no matter the species. This is really touching, how she was so overwhelmingly welcoming and protective of her baby after being reunited. Thanks for sharing, and cheers to all the great mothers out there!
Here! Here! Yes I agree her love and gentleness is so moving. Thanks for stopping by~
These are such lovely photographs, Cindy! Spectacular portraits but in a quiet way because they contain so much gentle beauty. They’re all so beautiful but I especially love the seventh one where Imani is gazing into the distance and of course the very first photo, which is just so precious.
I am so glad you appreciated these Halim. Yes, quiet, gentle beautiful creatures. Thank you for seeing them as I did my friend~
How very beautiful. Thank you for this rare and gorgeous post.
Awww, thank you for valuing them!
If we saw more of pics like this in this world, maybe some of us might value them more. I’m getting excited now about your hummingbird pics to come! The hummers will come our way first/mid May
I had to get new feeders, a two story job I call the condo that holds a quart and has 20 feeder outlets and another 40 ounce one with 12 outlets. I am looking at the hummers now…..lots of happy hummingbirds!
How encouraging to hear of these animals being treated with the respect they deserve…wonderful photographs!
Yes, thank God for all the people who do so much good everyday, usually with too little recognition!
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I am so glad you got to experience this and doubly glad you were as moved as I was!! Just incredible and marvelous your kids saw it too. They will remember it for the rest of their lives! Your post is awesome, as is your blog~
Definitely our cousins, and very touching relatives! Thank you, Cindy! xo _Resa
I don’t mean to be rude, but they are more polite than some of my relatives!!!
Laughing…….
😉 ♥
Loved these pictures! There’s something so captivating in the face of the newborn gorilla baby.
Yes, they reminded me of the face of the creatures that lived in the cave in Lord of the Rings, except nicer!
Wonderful.
Mil grazi my friend. I was wondering about coming up your way in May if you have time. I will email you when I get back from Canada to see if there is a time that is good for you~
such amazing creatures.
That is just what they are! Thank you~
Fabulous post, Cindy! I wouldn’t want to cross that Silverback, but oh, the tenderness of the mother! The photos are wonderful 🙂
Awww thank you! I don’t think any creature in their right mind would be able to take on that silverback in a fair contest!
So tender. It is tragic that these wonderful creatures are being poached to extinction :'(
Yes! Thank you~
inspirational Cindy, you are right about gorillas teaching us how to mother!
That is definitely what struck me pretty clearly!
Cindy, your photos are quite moving.
Awww, good. It’s a small thing, but at least it’s something~
Such wise and knowing expression in their eyes. They seem to look right into our soul and it makes them sad with what they find there.
Yes. Sadly, I see this in the eyes of all captive primates, including the Barbary Apes in Gibraltar, but not in the eyes of the ones I got quite close to in Africa, ie., the wild ones. It’s impossible for me not to read body language. It has been trained into me~
Yes the body language of captured animals is heartbreaking.
Yes. They know what has happened to them~
This was so amazing I had to share on Facebook!
Awwww, very touched and most appreciative~
Cindy these images took my breath away, they are so intimate and the details are so right there they can almost be touched. i came away after several viewings sensing a collective consciousness at work here, not sure i can explain it better than that. a truly wonderful collection!
Yes indeed. Jung hears you and so do I! There is a commonality of consciousness that we humans ignore at our peril. Jung knew because he had a near death experience as a young man. I am happy you can tap into this~
heh, Jung and i both, nearly 5 years ago.
the doctors asked me why i was still alive,
kinda’ stubborn i guess..lol
Have you written about this? People’s stories are being collected and are important. I would like to read it~
Beautiful photos and a lovely story Cindy. It is a wonderful reminder of how ‘human’ animals can be or just how ‘animal’ we are. –Curt
Yes! Beautifully thought out and expressed~