It’s a girl!

Published on 22 December 2021

Rockhampton Zoo has today announced that the newest member of the chimpanzee troop is a girl.

Zoo staff, together with Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor, Cherie Rutherford, revealed the gender with a special event held at the chimpanzee enclosure this morning.

Cr Rutherford said the announcement was some time in the making, and that staff enlisted the chimpanzee troop to help.

“We are so excited to share the news today that mum, Leakey has another daughter and that big sister Capri and big brother Gandali have a little sister,” Cr Rutherford said.

“For today’s announcement – we thought what better way than to have the troop involved.

“One of the activities Zoo staff carry out with the chimpanzees on occasions is painting, and we thought this was a great way to announce the gender by using either blue or pink paint.

“In the lead up to today, the chimpanzees were given pink paint and canvases and they created some wonderful works of art, as they always do, and these were then wrapped and used in our special reveal.

“Once the canvases were unwrapped and the pink paint was spotted it was official – it’s a girl!”

The artworks were then given to some very lucky zoo visitors after the event.

Cr Rutherford said that despite being under two weeks of age, the baby girl has already stolen the hearts of many visitors.

“The enclosure was reopened to the public early last week after being closed for a few days while the troop adjusted and welcomed their newest member,” Cr Rutherford said.

“Since reopening, the beautiful baby girl has certainly attracted a lot of visitors and Mum, Leakey is often very happy to be in the public view with her new bub.

“We are yet to give the newest addition a name, but now that we know the gender, we can start plans on how to get the community involved in her naming.”

Zoo Team Leader and Primate Keeper Blair Chapman said the troop is continuing to adjust well and Leakey is proving just as wonderful a Mum her second time round.

“Leakey is very calm and relaxed and has been since giving birth,” Blair said.

“She’s allowing staff to be near her, and she has also started letting all of the troop to come and investigate her baby. 

“The baby is feeding well and showing all the right signs, and she’s holding her head up nice and strong.

“She is sleeping a lot but when she isn’t she is incredibly alert.

“We’ve also noticed the new bub is very vocal compared to Capri and Gandali at the same age.”

The baby was born around 8.30pm on December 8, and now brings the troop number to eight.

The chimpanzee troop, along with all of the animals at the Zoo, can be visited between 10am and 4pm daily.

Please note, that zoo visitors are required to be fully vaccinated to enter the facility.

For further information, head to the Zoo’s website at: https://www.rockhamptonzoo.com.au/Home