Zoo Home To Special Gorilla, 3 Lion Cubs

POWELL, Ohio—The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is now home to another very special gorilla and three African lion cubs.

Oliver T. Barney, an 18-year-old male lowland gorilla, arrived at the zoo Tuesday from his most recent home at Gorilla Haven in Georgia.

What sets Oliver apart from the 14 other gorillas at the Columbus Zoo is that he is deaf. No one knows what caused Oliver’s deafness. There is no reason to believe it is genetic, and it has been determined he is not a candidate for a cochlear implant.

As part of the zoo’s standard protocol, Oliver will spend about a month isolated from the other zoo gorillas to monitor his health.

Oliver’s move to the zoo was made as a result of a recommendation by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP). The goal of the SSP and the Columbus Zoo is to provide Oliver with individual specialized care while integrating him into a social group and giving him the opportunity to someday sire his own offspring. 

Three African lion cubs were born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Sept. 22, 2009. 

Lion cubs have not been born at the zoo since 1985.

The cubs are the first for mother Asali and father Tomo. The pairing of Asali and Tomo was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African lions. The AZA, of which the Columbus Zoo is an accredited member, strives to maintain a sustainable population of lions in North America. 

The Columbus Zoo lions are one of only 31 pairs of pedigreed lions recommended for breeding by the SSP to maintain genetic diversity.

Asali is caring for her babies in a secluded den where they will remain for the next few months and perhaps longer due to cold winter weather.

The zoo said it will announce viewing information when it becomes available.

For more information, visit http://www.columbuszoo.org. 

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