On the quiet morning of July 21, 2025, a rare moment of joy unfolded at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Asha, a 32-year-old Western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a healthy baby — a moment that zookeepers and conservationists had been waiting over a decade to witness. It had been nearly 13 years since the last gorilla birth at CMZoo, making this a special and long-anticipated event.
The birth took place in the early hours before sunrise, with only a few Primate World keepers present. They observed with quiet excitement as Asha held her newborn closely, gently patting its back while sitting and lying beside it.
“The baby hangs onto Asha while she’s moving around, and she supports it with one hand. They’re bonding really well, and we have seen her licking the baby’s head and grooming it.”
According to animal keeper Ashton Asbury.
The baby has already shown promising signs of strength. It is nursing properly and clinging to Asha — both critical milestones in the early hours of a gorilla’s life. Although the baby’s sex and weight haven’t been determined yet, zookeepers say the signs are encouraging and indicate that the infant is healthy.
Asha is no stranger to motherhood. Born at the very same zoo in 1992, she has already raised two other babies, both of whom now live in different zoos as part of carefully planned gorilla conservation programs. This time, her role as a mother is paired with a new father — Goma, a 34-year-old silverback who arrived at CMZoo in 2016 on a breeding recommendation from the Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan. The plan, backed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, aims to help critically endangered gorilla populations recover in captivity with careful genetic diversity.
This newborn is Goma’s first baby, and though he’s new to the role of a dad, he’s already showing strong interest. Keepers heard him making soft, happy gorilla sounds — sometimes called “grumbles” — while staying close to Asha and the baby. Asha has been slowly introducing the baby to Goma, keeping a safe but open distance, and so far, everything seems calm and positive.
Another member of the troop, a female gorilla named Kwisha, may also play a role in the baby’s development. Though not genetically related, Kwisha grew up with Asha and knew her two earlier offspring. If Asha is comfortable, the baby will eventually begin interacting with both Goma and Kwisha in the coming weeks.
For now, the team at Primate World is letting Asha take the lead. As long as she and the baby continue to do well, they won’t intervene. That means it may be several weeks before the baby is named — a CMZoo tradition is to wait at least 30 days before choosing a name. Until then, guests visiting the zoo can catch a glimpse of the troop, as Primate World remains open to the public.
But this birth is more than just a touching story. It’s part of a much larger concern. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild. Their numbers continue to fall due to disease, poaching, and — most alarmingly — habitat loss. Much of their forest homes in West Africa are being destroyed for agriculture, settlements, and mining. One of the biggest threats comes from coltan mining — coltan is a mineral used in nearly every cell phone and small electronic device. Because many of these gorilla habitats are rich in coltan, the rising demand for electronics has come at a heavy cost.
The zoo encourages visitors to recycle old phones and devices to help reduce the demand for coltan mining in gorilla habitats. You can bring cell phones, tablets, GPS devices, cameras, and more to collection bins located near the gorillas’ indoor dens at CMZoo. These are then sent to Eco-Cell, a group that safely recycles electronics and reduces the need for new coltan extraction.
This baby gorilla isn’t just a new life — it’s a symbol of hope in a long battle to save a species. With Asha’s experience, Goma’s quiet curiosity, and the zoo’s dedicated care, the future for this little one is off to a strong start. Visitors to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo now have a rare opportunity to witness the first days of life for a critically endangered gorilla — a quiet but powerful reminder of what’s at stake and what’s still possible.