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The Buffalo Zoo Welcomes A Baby Giraffe!
 On Wednesday, December 22, 2010, the Buffalo Zoo was pleased to invite members of the media to photograph the latest addition to its animal family—a baby reticulated giraffe!
The male calf was born on Saturday, December 11, 2010 to mother, Agnes, and
father, Cain. Agnes, who was born at the Buffalo Zoo in 1994, is taking good care of her little one. This is Agnes’ third calf. Female, Jumoke, was born in 1998 and now resides at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, and male, Abu, was born in 2005 and now lives at Zoo Atlanta.
To ensure proper bonding between mother and calf, the inside doors to the Giraffe House are locked. However, visitors may view Agnes and her calf, as well as the other members of their herd, Jennie and A.J., through the glass doors of the Giraffe House vestibule.
Found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, giraffes can reach a height of approximately 14 to 18 feet, making them the tallest living mammals in the world. While giraffes’ necks are greatly elongated, they consist of seven vertebrae, just like humans.
Though giraffes are not endangered, they are listed as “near threatened” due to habitat loss and poaching.
Baby Joins Buffalo Zoo’s Gorilla Troop
 Buffalo, N.Y. – The Buffalo Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a baby western lowland gorilla!
The baby was born on October 8 at 7:40 p.m. to mother, Sidney, and father, Koga. Sidney, who was born at the Buffalo Zoo in 1997, and 23-year-old Koga, who arrived from the Memphis Zoo in 2007, are both first-time parents. Sidney continues to provide good care for the baby, while silverback, Koga, protectively watches over them and the rest of the troop. Sydney has not presented the baby close enough for her keepers to accurately determine gender, but both mother and baby are doing fine..
Since 1990, nine surviving gorilla babies have been born at the Buffalo Zoo. This is the first gorilla birth at the Buffalo Zoo since fellow troop member, Lily, was born in 2000. This birth also represents the second gorilla generation for the Buffalo Zoo. The breeding was recommended as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is designed to help a species maintain a stable, healthy and genetically diverse population in zoos.
Visitors may view the baby, Sidney, Koga, Lily and Becky in their exhibit. However, the gorillas are also given access to their interior holding facility so they can have more privacy, if they wish. Visitors are advised to check back later if they are unable to see the baby gorilla during the first attempt at viewing.
Western lowland gorillas are found the lowland tropical forests of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola and Nigeria. They are critically endangered due to habitat destruction and the bushmeat trade.
The gestation period for a gorilla is eight and a half months. Baby gorillas begin walking when they are approximately three to six months old, and they and are usually weaned by age three.
Baby Boom at the Buffalo Zoo!
BUFFALO, NY—There’s a baby boom taking place at the Buffalo Zoo, as a white-faced saki, Japanese macaque and two snow leopard cubs have joined the collection!
 White-Faced Saki
A baby saki monkey was born on April 28, 2010 to mother, Katrina, and father, Maracaibo. The birth of this white-faced saki is a first for the Buffalo Zoo!
Katrina is taking good care of her newborn. Keepers do not wish to disrupt bonding between Katrina and her baby, so they have not separated them to determine the baby’s gender.
White-faced sakis are found in the tropical rainforests of eastern and southern Venezuela, the Guianas and northern Brazil. Mature females give birth to one offspring per year. Baby sakis are all born with female colorations. Males do not begin to acquire the striking white face, for which the species is named, until they are approximately two months old.
The white-faced saki monkey is considered to be a vulnerable species due to hunting, collection for the pet trade and habitat destruction.
The Buffalo Zoo’s white-faced saki monkeys are housed inside M&T Bank Rainforest Falls. However, for their health and safety, the saki family is not on exhibit at this time.
 Japanese Macaque
The baby Japanese macaque, who keepers have named Niko, was born on June 1, 2010 to mother, Debbi, and father, Eric. Keepers believe that the baby is a male, but as with the saki monkey, the keepers do not wish to separate Debbi from her baby to determine the gender. Niko is growing fast and discovering new things each day.
The newborn is Debbi and Eric’s third offspring. Their two previous offspring, Ohno and Yuki, remain in the troop as well.
Also called snow monkeys, Japanese macaques live farther north than any other non-human primate. Thick coats help to maintain their body heat so the snow monkeys can survive the cold temperatures of central Japan’s highlands. They spend a good deal of time sunbathing, huddling together, sleeping and bathing in hot springs. Japanese macaques also play a special role in mythology, folklore and art of Japan. Most familiar are the three snow monkeys that represent the wisdom of Buddha: “See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.”
The Japanese macaque is an endangered species due to human encroachment and habitat destruction.
Buffalo Zoo visitors can find the Japanese macaques in Vanishing Animals (South). The Zoo has two macaque troops, which are exhibited on a rotational basis. Niko is on
NOTE TO THE MEDIA: For the health and safety of the animals as well as limited space in the holding facilities, please be advised that the opportunity to take photographs and/or video of the babies is not available at this time. However, video of the birth of the snow leopards is available upon request.
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