The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s youngest gorilla, named Joanne, enjoys riding on her mother Imani’s back, a skill that she has recently mastered. The now three-month-old gorilla has been growing and gaining some independence, reaching milestones such as riding on her mother’s back and crawling.
Keepers report that around three months is when gorilla babies will begin to display these behaviors, so Joanne is right on track with her development.
Joanne, named after the first chairwoman of the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global, was born at the Safari Park on March 12 after a rare emergency C-section. This was the first baby for mother Imani and the 17th gorilla to be born at the Safari Park.