Western lowland gorilla News

For the past two years, the primate team has had the privilege of sharing the story of our western lowland gorilla infant, Moke, with Smithsonian’s National Zoo fans all over the world. With Mother’s Day coming up May 10, primate keeper Carolina Powell highlights Moke’s very first friend—his mom...

As the primate team celebrates Moke's second birthday, keeper Alex Reddy reflects on the western lowland gorilla's growing independence, bold personality and training triumphs. 

Moke may just be a few months shy of turning 2-years-old, but our young western lowland gorilla has quite an independent personality! Last autumn, he mastered voluntary injection training. 

How do you get an orangutan to sit still for an electrocardiogram? All it takes is a little patience and a lot of ingenuity! The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s positive reinforcement training program enables primates to voluntarily participate in their own medical care without the need for anesthesia...

Catch the latest news about our 1.5-year-old western lowland gorilla, Moke, from primate keeper Carolina Powell. 

Western lowland gorilla infant Moke is becoming bolder, and with his growing confidence, we are beginning to see traces of his mom’s personality, says assistant curator Becky Malinsky. 

Treat dad like the king (of the jungle) he is at the Smithsonian's National Zoo!

With two youngsters, Moke and Redd, growing up at the Great Ape House, primate staff are taking the rare opportunity to study the gestures and spatial proximity between gorilla and orangutan mother-infant dyads.

It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since the day that Moke, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo's infant western lowland gorilla, was born. In the blink of an eye, he has grown from a fragile newborn to a rambunctious youngster.

Get the scoop on the reunion between western lowland gorilla infant Moke and his troop from Becky Malinsky, assistant curator of Primates. 

With each passing day, western lowland gorilla infant Moke places more weight on his injured leg. His gait and movement have improved over the past month. 

The holiday season and new year were an exciting time for the Zoo's 9-month-old western lowland gorilla, Moke! Read the latest keeper update.

The Zoo's rambunctious 9-month-old gorilla has a fractured femur. Moke is resting and recovering with his parents, Calaya and Baraka, under the close watch of the animal care team.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is dedicated to saving species. Every year, its team of conservationists here and around the globe works hard to make that mission a reality — and 2018 was no exception.

Western lowland gorilla infant Moke is making noise—with enrichment! 

Our 7-month-old western lowland gorilla Moke received his flu shot this month! Get the latest news on him in our keeper update. 

What has 7-month-old western lowland gorilla Moke been up to? Read all about it in the latest keeper update! 

Read the latest update on six-month-old western lowland gorilla infant Moke. 

Moke is six months old and, for the first time, keepers observed him taking his first steps in the outdoor yard independent of his mother!

Five-month-old western lowland gorilla, Moke, has been spending some quality time with his father, says primate keeper Melba Brown. 

Friends of the National Zoo volunteers are helping primate keepers monitor how our western lowland gorillas interact with one another, says primate keeper Melba Brown. 

Moke is 5 months old! Check out primate keeper Melba Brown's latest update on our western lowland gorillas. 

Western lowland gorilla Moke celebrated his mom's birthday and is learning through play, says primate keeper Melba Brown. 

Follow Primate Keeper Melba Brown's latest #GorillaStory update on 20-week-old western lowland gorilla Moke!

Primate keeper Melba Brown says western lowland gorilla infant Moke's big (and often, humorous) personality is beginning to emerge.