Maryland Zoo Welcomes Baby Chimpanzee

The Maryland Zoo has welcomed a new female baby chimpanzee.

Zoo officials said the chimp was born Dec. 29 to 24-year-old Raven. Mom and baby have spent the last week bonding in a quiet, off-exhibit area.

Chimpanzee gestation is approximately eight months long. Prenatal care begins once staff members get a positive pregnancy test. The veterinary and animal care teams also performed routine ultrasounds on Raven to make sure the baby was growing appropriately. Chimp babies usually weigh 2 to 3 pounds at birth.

The tiny new addition looks like a miniature version of her mom, with fluffy black hair covering most of her body. She spends nearly all of her time cradled in Raven's arms.

Raven is the second chimpanzee to give birth at the zoo recently. In July, the zoo welcomed baby Lola. At 6 months old, she still spends the majority of her time close to her mom, Bunny.

Since Raven is a first-time mother, the Animal Care team has placed her with a smaller group of chimps, including Bunny and Lola. The arrangement allows Raven to focus on caring for her baby and not have to worry about the complex social dynamics of chimp society. The care team hopes Raven will gain comfort and confidence in her mothering skills by spending time with Bunny and Lola.

There are currently 14 chimpanzees in The Maryland Zoo's troop, including the newborn. While most of the troop can be seen daily in the Chimpanzee Forest, Raven and her baby will remain behind the scenes for a short period of time to allow them to continue to strengthen their bond.