AMAZING ZOO STORY!

 Spoiler: They did not know in 2019 when the lowland gorilla named "Sully' arrived 

Shock Twist at Columbus Zoo as 'Male' Gorilla Gives Birth to Surprise Baby Girl

The Ohio zoo believed Sully the gorilla, who arrived at the facility in 2019, was a male until they found the primate cradling a baby gorilla on July 20

By Nikki Dobrin 

 

Updated on July 21, 2023 05:19PM EDT

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium finds out male gorilla is female when she gave birth. PHOTO: 

COLUMBUS ZOO/FACEBOOK

It's a girl! And it's also another girl! 

In a shocking but nonetheless joyous turn of events, an Ohio zoo discovered upon the birth of its newest western lowland gorilla that the baby's mother was not male — as the zookeepers initially thought — but female.

The new baby's mother, an 8-year-old primate named Sully, who has been a resident at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium since 2019, was believed to be a male gorilla — that is until her carers came to her enclosure early Thursday and discovered her holding her unexpected infant. 

The following announcement was made on the zoo's official Facebook page: "We have an adorable surprise to share with all of you today! Our gorilla family just got a little bigger with the unexpected birth of a female baby gorilla! But here's the other incredible part: our dedicated keepers recently discovered that the proud mom, who was initially believed to be a male, is actually a female gorilla. Talk about a surprise twist!"

 Toronto Zoo Asks Visitors to Stop Showing Phone Videos to Gorillas: 'Content Can Be Upsetting'

COLUMBUS ZOO/FACEBOOK

According to the zoo's official blog, such a situation occurs because it can be difficult to tell the sex of a gorilla when they are young. . .

COLUMBUS ZOO/FACEBOOK

Sully lives in a troop of gorillas that includes three males and five females. The zoo intends to perform a DNA test to determine her baby's father, and there are no plans to remove the new mom and her baby to a new enclosure. "The troop is supportive of Sully and the infant, and they will remain as a social group," according to the zoo's blog."

Source: PEOPLE