Baby Jameela grabbed onto everyone's hearts when we first heard of her, and she has yet to let go. Everything about her story is just incredible: for a while there, it felt like Jameela just couldn't get luck on her side. Finally, however, she's found a home, and from the looks of it she couldn't be any happier.
On Saturday, April 27th, the zoo where Jameela landed to start her new life shared a cheerful update. It's truly perfect for springtime:
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has officially made its way into my list of favorite zoos, and it's all because of Jameela! I'm legitimately thinking about booking a trip there soon just to see her and queen Freddy for myself.
Related: Gorilla Baby Jameela's Bond with Foster Mom Grows Stronger by the Day
By now, everyone knows Jameela's story, right? She was rejected by her mom, Sekani, after a difficult pregnancy-turned-C-section at the Fort Worth Zoo. They tried their best to get another gorilla in their own troop to take her in, but it didn't work, and thus she was shipped off to Cleveland, where she met Fredrika. The several-time surrogate mom took her right in!
Since then, Jameela and Freddy have really bonded. The queen can be found carrying Jameela on her back, just like she would with one of her "real" kids. As it should be, Jameela and Freddy are almost inseparable, and the two of them went on a little adventure together outside. Some of Jameela's surrogate troop-mates were even around, and they seem to like her, too!
How Long do Gorillas Stay With Their Mothers?
Jameela just landed at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with Freddy and her family, but there's one question on everyone's mind: how long will she be staying there?
In the wild, infants stay with their mothers for anywhere from 4-5 years before they're ready to go off on their own. They spend a lot of that time attached to their mother's back, though they do get down to play with their siblings and try their hand at foraging every once in a while. After that, they sometimes will go off, but they can choose to stay in their troop, too.
In a zoo setting, troops often stay together for the duration of their lives, and Jameela's situation may be no different. Where she ends up later on in life will depend on where she's needed: as a perfectly healthy female, she may end up being placed at a different zoo for breeding purposes. What matters now, though, is the fact that she's safe and loved by humans and gorillas alike!
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