Tulsa Zoo is expecting a new addition to their troop. Zuri, the 12-year-old female chimpanzee, is expecting her first infant.
“We’re very excited for Zuri,” said Tulsa Zoo Curator of Mammals Jordan Piha. “This will be the first chimpanzee infant to join our troop since Enloe was born 10 years ago. We are looking forward to sharing this special moment with Zuri and the Tulsa community.”
Chimpanzee gestation is approximately 8 months. The father is believed to be either alpha male Bernsen or Enloe. Tulsa Zoo animal care staff expects Zuri’s infant to be born later this spring.
“First-time chimpanzee mothers have heightened risk factors throughout their pregnancy,” said Piha. “We are closely monitoring both Zuri and the growing infant. From prenatal vitamins to a specialized diet, regular medical exams and even ultrasounds, Zuri’s individualized care plan is very similar to that of a human.”
Besides the medical aspects of this pregnancy, Tulsa Zoo’s animal care team manages troop dynamics, the complex social structures within the troop. Through thoughtful planning and active observation, cues will be taken from the troop concerning how to proceed both before and after the infant is born.
Zuri came to Tulsa Zoo from the Los Angeles Zoo in 2023 through ongoing participation in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan® with the intention of breeding within our troop.