A new baby gorilla, born at the Philadelphia Zoo earlier this month, was named today with some special help.
At 11 a.m. at the Philadelphia Zoo, the baby gorilla was named Abaju.
The zoo let Abaju's mother, Kira, choose the name. Three boxes of the gorilla's favorite foods were put out, and inside of each box there was a different name option.
Kira came out with her new baby in her arms and chose a box.
The three different options in the boxes were Abaju, Wasingya and Lwanzo.
Each name comes with meaning. Wasingya means thank you very much, Lwanzo means love and Abaju means miracle.
The options were decided through a team effort of the Philadelphia Zoo, the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), a gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its Congolese youth and conservation club.
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Gorilla expert Kristen Farley-Rambo and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Andy Baker attended the naming event.
The western lowland gorilla was born to Kira, a 17-year-old female and Motuba a 32-year-old on June 2. The new baby is Kira’s firstborn.
