Baby gorilla Kayembe playing at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.Photo: Photo by Tom Moore / iHeartMedia
CLEVELAND - Cleveland Metroparks Zoo celebrated baby gorilla, Kayembe’s,1st birthday on Wednesday. Kayembe made history as the first gorilla born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in its 140 years. To commemorate the occasion, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has launched its first children’s book, Baby K’s Big Day. The story celebrates Kayembe’s extraordinary birth in the hopes of building connections with and conservation of this amazing and critically endangered species.
“Kayembe has captured the hearts of so many with his extraordinary birth and story,” says Cleveland Metroparks Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar. “To see how the public has connected with the gorilla troop underscores the importance of our conservation efforts and the need to protect them in the wild.” Proceeds of this book will support the construction of the future home for Kayembe and his troop in the Zoo’s upcoming Primate Forest habitat that will set a new standard for animal care and conservation.
Photo: Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo