Gorilla Baby Name Announcement This Weekend!

The Buffalo Zoo will announce the winning name for the new baby gorilla during an “APE-ril” event this Saturday.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Zoo’s gorilla exhibit.

Spend the afternoon learning all about the gorillas! The APE-ril event will feature keeper talks, feedings, a birthday celebration for Sydney, and the announcement of the winning name for her new baby boy!

Earlier this year, the Zoo announced that a new baby had been born to gorilla parents 28-year-old Koga, and Sydney, who is turning 19 this month. A few weeks ago, the Zoo revealed that the baby is a boy and asked the community to vote between three possible names for the little guy. The winning name will be revealed during Saturday’s event. Sydney was born at The Buffalo Zoo in 1997, and is also the mother of five-year-old Amari.

A full schedule of APE-ril event activities follows:

• 11 a.m. – Crafts and Q&A session at the gorilla exhibit
• 12 p.m. – Announcement of the winning name for the baby gorilla
• 12:20 p.m. – Birthday treats for Sydney
• 1 p.m. – Crafts and keeper talk in the gorilla exhibit
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Crafts and Q&A session at the gorilla exhibit

Any visitor who brings an unwanted cell phone to the Zoo will receive $1 off admission. Recycling cell phones helps gorillas in the Congo by decreasing the demand for coltan mining.

For more information about Saturday’s event, call (716) 995-6133.

Buffalo Zoo Gift Shop Partners with Women & Children’s Hospital

The Buffalo Zoo’s gift shop, Zootique, has partnered with Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB) to bring cheer to its patients.

Beginning Saturday, March 19, Zoo visitors will have an opportunity to purchase special plush animal toys from Zootique at a discounted rate, which will then be donated to WCHOB. The plush “animal ambassadors” will be delivered to the hospital throughout the year in an effort to put smiles on the faces of young patients.

Anyone who participates will be invited to draw a picture for the Oishei Children’s Hospital Community Art Mosaic. The mosaic will be comprised of thousands of smiling self-portraits drawn by patients and members of the Western New York Community. The completed mosaic will form the centerpiece of the lobby area at the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, slated to open in the fall of 2017 on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

“The Buffalo Zoo’s partnership will help to build the foundation and support for our vision of bringing Buffalo’s culturals to the children and families in the new Oishei Children’s Hospital," said Allegra Jaros, MBA, President, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. “The arts and culturals are integral tools for healing and respite, and it is our hope that they become a key element in the design and atmosphere of the new Oishei Children’s Hospital."

For further information about the program, please call the Zootique at (716) 837-3900 x110 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.

Choose a Name for the Baby Gorilla!

The Buffalo Zoo is inviting the community to help choose a name for the new baby gorilla.

The baby was born on Sunday, January 10 at 11:04 p.m. to mother, 18-year-old Sydney, and father, 28-year-old Koga. Sydney has displayed strong maternal instincts and is taking great care of the troop’s latest addition.

Last week, the Zoo’s gorilla keepers were able to determine that the baby is a boy. They have narrowed a long list of possible names down to their top three choices, and are now asking the Western New York community to assist with the final decision!

The Zoo will announce the winning name during their “APEril” Zooper Saturday event on April 2, 2016.

You can visit the newest baby along with the rest of the gorilla troop every day in the Zoo’s gorilla house.

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