Calgary Zoo Announces Pregnancy of Critically Endangered Gorilla Dossi

The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo has announced that Dossi, a 25 year old western lowland gorilla, is pregnant and expected to give birth early next year.

The zoo made the announcement Thursday on World Gorilla Day, describing the pregnancy as an important development for the conservation of a species classified as critically endangered.

Zoo officials estimate that Dossi is between 16 and 17 weeks pregnant and say she is in good health.

Jana Swart, an animal care manager at the Calgary Zoo, said Dossi is at an appropriate age for a healthy pregnancy and has shown no major changes in her behaviour.

Staff have noticed that Dossi appears slightly more tired at times, while continuing to maintain a healthy appetite. Otherwise, Swart said, her behaviour remains normal for this stage of the pregnancy.

The expected arrival will add another member to the zoo’s western lowland gorilla group and provide a future companion for Okabe, the gorilla born at the facility in 2023.

The father is Jasiri, a 28 year old western lowland gorilla and the only adult male of the species currently at the Calgary Zoo.

Dossi and Jasiri have previously had one offspring. Their first baby, Eyare, was born in April 2022 but died in 2024 after an employee mistakenly activated a hydraulic door that struck the young gorilla in the head.

The zoo’s latest pregnancy announcement therefore marks an important moment for the gorilla group and its animal care team.

Swart said the pregnancy represents an important milestone for the conservation of western lowland gorillas and for the zoo’s participation in efforts aimed at maintaining healthy populations of the species.

Western lowland gorillas face serious threats in the wild, including poaching, the loss of natural habitat and disease. Conservation programs involving zoos and wildlife organizations are designed to support the long term survival and genetic diversity of the species.

The Calgary Zoo participates in the western lowland gorilla Species Survival Plan, which coordinates breeding and conservation efforts among participating institutions.

Dossi’s expected delivery window is between late January and early March 2027.

Zoo officials say they are monitoring her closely throughout the pregnancy while allowing her to maintain her normal routine.

The sex of the baby is not yet known. Swart said female gorillas can be particularly valuable to breeding programs, but the primary concern is that Dossi and the newborn remain healthy.

If the pregnancy continues normally, the arrival will mark another significant addition to the Calgary Zoo’s gorilla group and provide an important new generation for a species facing severe challenges in the wild.

Courtesy: CBC