Seattle residents could soon welcome two new members of a beloved animal family at Woodland Park Zoo. The zoo announced this week that two Western lowland gorillas—Olympia and Jamani—are both expecting babies in May, with their due dates just five days apart. Olympia is expected to give birth May 19, followed by Jamani on May 24. The father of both infants is Nadaya, the troop’s silverback.
Moms Olympia and Jamani will be raising their young together for the second time. Before moving to Woodland Park Zoo in 2022, the two lived together at the North Carolina Zoo, where each gave birth to a son just weeks apart in 2012. They successfully raised their babies alongside one another, a dynamic the zoo hopes will continue with the upcoming arrivals.
The pregnancies will mark a milestone for Nadaya, a first-time dad who came to Seattle from the Saint Louis Zoo in 2022. As the troop’s adult male, he holds the role of silverback—responsible for providing stability, leadership and protection for the family group.
Zoo staff say they are closely monitoring both expectant mothers, and that they’re “both doing great.” Woodland Park Zoo has a long-running gorilla breeding program and creates detailed birth management plans for each pregnancy. Care includes regular veterinary checkups, nutritionist-designed diets and supplemental vitamins to help maintain healthy weights before delivery. Gorillas at the zoo are also trained to voluntarily participate in non-invasive medical exams, helping caregivers monitor pregnancies with minimal stress. Fun fact: the gorilla care team used the same home pregnancy test kits designed for humans to determine these pregnancies.
Woodland Park Zoo’s gorilla keeper Judy Sievert said that we’re all in “for a real treat”:
“A baby gorilla is exciting, but two babies will be so much fun for the gorilla care team and the community to watch them growing up together. Just like humans, gorillas also think their babies are cute. When a baby gorilla gets a little older, they become ticklish and have laughing vocalizations.”
Wondering when you’ll be able to see the new baby gorillas at Woodland Park Zoo? Visitors eager to meet the babies may have to wait a bit. While the births are expected in mid-to-late May, zoos typically allow several weeks of private bonding time before newborn animals are introduced to the public. We’ll share updates as the due dates approach!