- Title: NETHERLANDS: Twin gorillas born in Dutch zoo
- Date: 19th June 2013
- Summary: ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS (JUNE 19, 2013) (REUTERS) STATUES OF ANIMALS OUTSIDE THE ZOO FACE OF GORILLA STATUE MOTHER GORILLA 'N'GAYLA' IN THE ZOO WOOD N'GAYLA APPROACHING WITH TWINS IN HER ARMS AND EATING HEAD KEEPER OF GREAT APES, WILCO LIMPERS, THROWING A TOMATO TO THE GORILLAS / GORILLAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD KEEPER OF THE GREAT APES, WILCO LIMPERS, SAYING: "In gorilla world, twins are very rare, because in the last fifty years, there has only been ten births in zoos, so it's very rare." FATHER GORILLA 'BAUWI' EATING CORN (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD KEEPER OF THE GREAT APES, WILCO LIMPERS, SAYING: "The father is not doing anything in the beginning, only sitting next to her to protect her towards the others, and when the youngsters are one and a half year old and they want to play then he will play with them and that's quite nice to see." N'GAYLA EATING WITH TWINS IN HER ARMS GORILLA CHASING OTHERS
- Embargoed: 4th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Netherlands
- City:
- Country: Netherlands
- Topics: Environment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAAA2TOBF6JLG9YDBTPLY12BJA
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- Story Text: Twins gorillas born in a Dutch zoo, a rare event in captivity.
A mother gorilla gave birth to twins in a Dutch zoo on the outskirts of Arnhem in the Netherlands, close to the German border.
Head keeper of the great apes at the zoo, Wilco Limpers, said the event was of significance because twins are a rare occurrence among gorillas, especially for those in captivity.
"In gorilla world, twins are very rare because in the last fifty years, there has only been ten births in zoos, so it's very rare," Limpers said.
The 20-year-old mother N'Gayla gave birth on June 13 to two healthy baby gorillas, one male and one female.
She has already has three offspring and is known by zoo officials to be a good and caring mother.
Limpers said the new borns' 23-year old father will at first not have any contact with his offspring but will play with them when they get a bit older. Till then, he will protect the mother from the other gorillas in the group
"The father is not doing anything in the beginning, only sit next to her to protect her towards the others, and when the youngsters are one and a half year old, they want to play and then he will play with them and that's quite nice to see," Limpers said.
The twins will spend eight to ten years with their family, and then will have to move to another zoo to prevent incest within the group. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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