A new baby chimpanzee has been born in Baltimore.
The Maryland Zoo says the girl was born on Sunday, December 29, 2019, to 24-year-old chimpanzee Raven.
“The baby is gripping well and is very vocal,” said Erin Cantwell, mammal collection and conservation manager. “Similar to many new moms, Raven needs a lot of support and encouragement. She’s a first-time mom, and we are using behavior training to guide her on how to carry and nurse the baby properly.”
Raven was pregnant for about eight months. Raven is the second chimpanzee to give birth at the Zoo recently. In July 2019, the zoo welcomed baby Lola.
Experts say developmental milestones for chimpanzees are similar to those for human babies. The staff will monitor the baby for important abilities, such as the ability to hold her head up on her own, use of her fingers and toes to grasp things, learning vocalizations and facial expressions, and teething.
There are currently 14 endangered chimpanzees among the Maryland Zoo’s troop including the newborn.
This article was written by Keyarah Watson for WMAR .
