Comments On: Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA

Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA part 1
Kubandu
Kubandu, or Kubie was a male western lowland gorilla. He was born December 23, 1982 at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham MA, His father is named Sam and his mother, Gigi, who is still here at Franklin Park Zoo. Gigi had given birth to one other gorilla in 1981, named Quito. Because she was socially inexperienced. Gigi was unable to properly care for Quito. He was raised by human caretakers, and later joined by two other had reared young gorillas, Gus, and Kiki, who is here still at Franklin Park Zoo. Gigi and Kubie were "introduced" to the three young gorillas in hopes at encouraging good gorilla social behavior.
Gigi, Kiki and Kubie moved to the Franklin Park Zoo in 1989 when the African Tropical Forest opened. Kiki and Kubie spent most of their time together, while Gigi joined her new mate, Wip.
Kubie was known to zoo staff and visitors as an exuberant and energetic animal, one who was always running about on exhibit chest beating and "calling" to get peoples attention. As a little guy at Stone Zoo, he amused and entertained us with his antics and non stop play. As an adult silver back, his beauty and power inspired awe.
Kubie died on October 9, 1997 following complications from anesthesia during a medical examination. The other gorillas miss him, as do zoo staff and the many visitors who came to know him over the years. Because of his outgoing personality, his sheer physical presence, and - despite his power and size - his gentle nature, Kubie taught countless people about the beautiful, special animals that gorillas truly are. Brad and Trouble
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Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA part 2
Okpara. Born July 1993
Little Joe and Okpara were born at the Bronx Zoo in New York and were hand raised together by Zoo staff. They are half-brothers.
In 1995 they went to the Cleveland Zoo, where they lived for two years, before coming to Boston.
Kiki was born at the Bronx Zoo in New York and was hand raised by Zoo staff. When she was 6 months old she came to Boston to be introduced to a group of gorillas of a similar age. Eventually, she was introduced into a mother and son family group, where she was able to observe mothering behavior.
Kiki was the first gorilla of our resident group to show interest in Little Joe and Okpara when they arrived in Boston. For that reason, she was the first to be introduced to them.
Brad and Trouble
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Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA part 3
October, 9 1997 (Boston, MA) Zoo New England officials have reported that "Kubandu," one of four Western lowland gorillas housed in the Franklin Park Zoo's Tropical Forest Pavilion, died today shortly after his annual physical exam, Zoo veterinary staff said the gorilla apparently succumbed to complications from anesthesia.
"There is no such thing as a routine anesthesia procedure" said Brian A. Rutledge, President/CEO of Zoo New England. "We have lost a very good friend and right now we are doing our best to cope with that loss," he added.
Affectionately known as "Kubie" to Zoo staff and visitors, the 14 year-old gorilla was born at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham in 1082 and had been living in the Franklin Park Zoo since 1989. Last January "Kubie" became infamous for his mischievous antics at a Zoo press conference, where he pelted politicians with feces and straw.
Most of the animals at the Zoo receive annual physicals as part of their routine veterinary care, and it is common practice to administer anesthesia to animals during their exams, according to Zoo officials. "Kubie" regurgitated and aspired fluid during the exam, a complication that was addressed immediately. Shortly after the exam, however, the gorilla went into complete respiratory arrest and did not respond to heroic resuscitation efforts.
The exam was conducted by a team of 26 staff, including five veterinarians, one of whom is a board-certified anesthesiologist from Angeil Memorial Animal Hospital in Jamaica Plain.
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Dear Editor, Please note that our staff is mourning this loss, and we kindly ask that you refrain from sending any reporter or Photographers to the Zoo grounds today. Thank you for your consideration.
Ode to Kubi
Kubi,
Your mortal presence is no more, but in my mind's eye your spirit lives on, a majestic beast who with stern looks stood aloof and proud, master of all he surveyed, no longer of Africa but the wildness heart never far from there. No civilization could tame you as even in this strange new land where people as mere onlookers only seemed to stare and gape, a curious nuisance to tolerate. Remember Kubi when my voice sang out amongst the stone walls of your home, and I called you, not one of your kind but touching a part of your being, as if family, exchanging glances and though proud and powerful, you were also shy as if a foil to that mighty strength. If only Kubi we could have spoken, what thoughts we might have shared; that will always be the wonder of it, but wonder not about the love and affection I hold for you, that death cannot diminish, forever a friend and always in my heart and mind.
David
Brad and Trouble

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Franklin Park Zoo Boston MA part 4
Gorillas grow up faster than humans.
At 5 pounds or less, a newborn gorilla is lighter than its human counterpart (average birth weight for an infant in the U.S. is over 6 pounds). But the gorilla baby is much stronger and develops more quickly. Within days of birth a gorilla can lift its head. From the start, a gorilla's tiny hands can grip with strength humans don't acquire for years. By the time it's 6 months old a gorilla spends all day clinging to its mother's back as she roams the forest in search of food. Gorilla babies go through most of the same stages of development as human babies...learning to roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, and manipulate objects with their hands...but they accomplish these feats much earlier. For example, a baby gorilla can sit up on its own by 3 ½ months and stand on all fours a few days later. By 6 months a gorilla is walking confidently, eating solid food, and climbing on anything within reach.
Baby gorillas don't make the variety of babbling sounds that human babies make--the vocalizations that eventually become words. But an infant gorilla does express itself. It whines, shrieks or screams according to the circumstances. Starting about 11 weeks, gorillas also giggle, usually when playing with each other or, in captivity, when humans tickle them.
By the age of 3 a gorilla is basically self-sufficient, foraging for its own food and building its own nest at night. But for several more years it continues to run to Mom for comfort when the going gets tough.
At about 6, gorillas enter puberty, and by 7 they begin to show the physical characteristics that differentiate the males form the females. A female gorilla is not fully developed until the age of ten, but usually she can conceive at 8. As in the case of humans, male gorillas develop more slowly than females, reaching full maturity at 14 to 16.
Brad and Trouble
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Nooga Booga...
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Would it be possible for you to send me information on the diet you feed to the primates (rhesus). Do you only give biscuits or do you supliment with fruit and vegetables? How often? With each meal or only a few times a week. I would greatly appreciate a response asap.
Thanks
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I would love to see all of the gorillas at the Franklin Park zoo. Kubie was one of my favorites. He prooved his reputation as a jokester when he would throw fecies aat zoo keepers and visitors. He has been sorely missed. Little Joe has taken up Kubies role as a prngster by throwing apples and hay at visitors and caretakers, especially if it's too early in the morning. I now volunteer at the zoo and he through an apple that was about 6 inches away from my head. There is a light to the darkness of early death. Kira, the new addition to the family of gorillas is doing great.

We miss you Kubandu, wherever you are. You have touched the souls of many. Part of us left with you, but your spirit will live on forever.
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I love watching all of the gorillas at the Franklin Park Zoo. I finally can tell all of them apart. Gorillas are such great animals, it is said that they are endangered. WE must save them.
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I really love gorillas. They are so cool! Sometimes I wish I could be a gorilla myself. I also wish that the gorillas weren't extinct.
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