LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Zoo welcomed a 1.5-month-old western lowland gorilla after he didn't bond with his mother where he was born.

Abeo, which means "bringer of happiness" in Yaruba, a language spoken in west Africa, was born June 28 at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, the Louisville Zoo said in a news release Tuesday. But he was unable to bond with his first-time mom, Akenji. When training another foster mother didn't progress, Abeo was moved to Louisville in search of more suitable care.

The Gorilla Species Survival worked with the Woodland Park Zoo to find Abeo a new home. The programs aims to find foster gorillas around the country.

"While we always hope for a natural mother-infant bond, circumstances sometimes require alternative solutions for the well-being of the gorilla," Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said in a news release Tuesday. "Our Gorilla Forest care team’s successful work with Kindi and Kweli stands as a testament to their expertise. Kweli is a dedicated mother, and Kindi is thriving in her family group, showing all the proper, healthy gorilla behaviors. I look forward to seeing this young gorilla flourish with his new family."

Kweli, a 40-year-old female gorilla at the Louisville Zoo, will be Abeo's foster mom due to her past success with Kindi, who was orphaned after her mother died after giving birth. Zoo officials hopes Abeo has the same success as Kindi, who is now 8 years old in Louisville.

Louisville Zoo Coverage:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.