24th February 2012
NEW GORILLA IN OUR MIDST
- SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT CHESSINGTON AS GORILLA BIRTH IS STREAMED LIVE ONLINE -
A gorilla who was taken off the Pill on Valentine’s Day last year has given birth to a baby.
Mother Asili – one of the six female Western Lowland gorillas at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Surrey – gave birth to the youngster yesterday (Thursday 23rd February), and both mother and baby appear to be doing well.
Animal keepers took Asili off the contraceptive Pill on February 14th 2011, in the hope that they could encourage some monkey business between Asili and partner Damisi.
Some of the 27,000+ fans of the Chessington Facebook page were able to witness the birth online and in real time, thanks to special webcams set up in the gorilla enclosure to stream live footage 24 hours a day. The birth took just 30 minutes, and saw mother Asili naturally deliver her baby, who has not yet been named, at 2.14pm. The sex of the baby may not be known for some time.
This is the second baby gorilla to be born at Chessington in the past three years, thanks to the Zoo’s successful breeding programme, reputed to be one of the best in Europe.
It is hoped that the new youngster will befriend young gorilla Mbula, who was born to mother Buu in March 2009. Both baby gorillas were fathered by breeding male Damisi.
James Mackie, Gorilla Keeper at Chessington Zoo, said: “We've been waiting for what seems like forever for Asili to give birth, but it seems that - thanks to the unseasonably warm weather - spring has finally sprung.
"Damisi is turning out to be something of a stud in the gorilla enclosure. We introduced him as a new breeding male in 2008, and he immediately successfully bred with Buu. Now, only three years after the birth of Mbula, he has fathered a second baby following a romance with Asili.
“The Western Lowland gorilla is a vulnerable species which reproduces slowly”, he continued. “Females tend to produce only one baby every five years on average, so for Chessington to have welcomed two babies in three years really is cause for celebration. We're expecting an influx of visitors keen to catch a glimpse of our new arrival when the resort opens for the new season on 23rd March.”
The new arrival is the ultimate birthday present for Chessington, which celebrates its 25th anniversary as a theme park this year.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
· High Resolution images of Chessington World of Adventures Resort and Holiday Inn Chessington are available for the media to download free of charge from www.chessington.com/press
· Follow us on Twitter; www.twitter.com/cwoa or become a fan on Facebook; www.facebook.com/chessington and watch our latest videos on YouTube www.youtube.com/wwwchessingtoncom
Opening times
· Full park season 23rd March to 5th November 2012
· Chessington Zoo Days every weekend outside of the above and every day during February half term. Plus Festive Zoo Days on selected weekends in December and then 22nd December – 2nd January (exc Christmas Day)
· Chessington Resort Hotel is open all year round
· Discover the perfect family get away at the resort’s safari-themed Holiday Inn Chessington, where you can enjoy themed rooms, an indoor swimming pool & spa and the fantastic African-themed restaurant Zafari Bar & Grill.
· Express passes and special offers are available online when booking in advance on www.chessington.com
· MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 87 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 17,000 employees. Among Merlin’s attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.
· For 12 months unlimited access to Chessington and/or Merlin’s other UK attractions see our range of annual passes at Merlin Annual Pass
· The Zoo at Chessington World of Adventures is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.