Kokomo (gorilla)

Last updated
Kokomo
Species Western lowland gorilla
SexFemale
Residence San Diego Zoo Safari Park
MateWinston
Offspring6 (Leslie)
Weight229 lb (104 kg)

Kokomo is a female western lowland gorilla that lives in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. [1] She was moved from the Oklahoma City Zoo to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. [2] The western lowland gorilla is a critically endangered species.

Contents

Life

Kokomo weighs 229 pounds (104 kg). [3]

Offspring

She has given birth six times, including twins at Oklahoma City Zoo in 1999. [4] The first offspring was born on 5 December 1996, but died soon on 14th March 1997 due to Salmonella infection. [5]

Leslie

Zookeepers noted that she was a very protective mother, even refusing to let them touch baby Leslie, [6] the second born to Kokomo and Winston, a male Western lowland gorilla. The baby was born on October 18, 2016 [7] and weighed 3.5-4.5 pounds. The baby became a part of the troop of eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. [8] The troop is on display at Gorilla Forest daily. The troop consists of one adult male, three adult females, 5-year-old Monroe, 2-year-old Joanne, and 8-year-old Frank. [9] This birth is an important step in saving the critically endangered species. [10]

In 2019 medical experts collaborated to do cataract surgery on then three-year-old Leslie. This was the park's first cataract surgery on a gorilla. [11]

Covid-19

The first detected case of Covid-19 in Gorillas was reported on 11 January 2020 among the eight gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. [12] While it is not clear if all the Gorillas were individually tested, reports suggest that most of them showed mild symptoms such as coughing and congestion. [13] The park was closed during this time, so it is suspected that the Gorillas contracted the virus from an asymptomatic staff, despite the protective measures they had all taken.

Winston, a silverback Gorilla at the zoo and with whom Kokomo has produced two offsprings (Leslie and Monroe), was affected examined under anaesthesia due to concerns about his age and underlying conditions. The examination confirmed pneuomonia and heart disease and from a supply not permitted for human use, he was treated with monoclonal antibodies, heart medication, and antibiotics. [14]

According to a CNN report on 16 February 2021, all Gorillas made a complete recovery. [15]

Death

Kokoma died at the San Diego Zoo on 22 January 2025. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Wilkens, John (2016-10-20). "It's a girl! Gorilla born at Safari Park". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  2. ↑ Relations, Public (2016-10-20). "It's a Girl-illa: Gorilla Born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park". Zoonooz. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  3. ↑ "Baby gorilla born at San Diego Zoo Safari Park". The Mercury News. Associated Press. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  4. ↑ Kaur, Jaspreet (2016-10-21). "Kokomo the Gorilla Shows off 2-Day-Old Baby at Safari Park". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  5. ↑ "1421 - Unnamed". www.dewarwildlife.org. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Gorilla | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants". animals.sandiegozoo.org. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  7. ↑ "Kokomo the Gorilla Shows off 2-Day-Old Baby at San Diego Zoo Safari Park". Lucky D's Hostel. Archived from the original on 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  8. ↑ Bohn, Ken (2016-10-20). "It's a girl! Gorilla born at San Diego Zoo". CBS News. AP. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  9. ↑ "Sweet Surprise for San Diego Zoo Gorilla Keepers". ZooBorns. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  10. ↑ Maisels, F.; Strindberg, S.; Breuer, T.; Greer, D.; Jeffery, K.; Stokes, E. (2018) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Gorilla gorilla ssp. gorilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T9406A136251508. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T9406A136251508.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Experts Come Together to Save 3-year-old Gorilla's Eyesight at San Diego Zoo Safari Park". ucsdnews.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  12. ↑ "https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gorillas-test-positive-covid-19-what-it-means-great-apes". www.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-11-12.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "Captive gorillas test positive for coronavirus". www.science.org. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  14. ↑ Mossburg, Madeline Holcombe,Cheri (2021-02-16). "San Diego Zoo gorillas make full recovery from Covid-19". CNN. Retrieved 2025-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Mossburg, Madeline Holcombe,Cheri (2021-02-16). "San Diego Zoo gorillas make full recovery from Covid-19". CNN. Retrieved 2025-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "1049 - KOKAMO". www.dewarwildlife.org. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
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