Maryland Zoo welcomes baby chimpanzee

Rozi at the Maryland Zoo (Image courtesy of Maryland Zoo)

Maryland Zoo announced that the number of chimpanzees at the zoo has grown by one as it welcomes Rozi on June 10, 2024. Initially after her birth, she was doing well but after a few weeks the animal care team at the zoo noticed a decline in her health.

“Rozi is a hand-reared chimp and first time mom so we weren’t sure what to expect,” said Pamela Carter, Chimpanzee Forest Area manager at the Maryland Zoo, in an organizational release.¹ “In this case, it was in the baby’s best interest for us to carefully intervene.”

The animal care team became concerned that Rozi was not getting enough milk from her mother. However, the team was able to stabilize her and the zookeepers have been providing around the clock care until she is strong enough to rejoin the troop. According to the release,¹ the medical staff at the zoo is placed with Rozi’s progress recently but she may need supplemental nutrition even after reuniting with her mother. Currently, Rozi is being cared for behind the scenes at the zoo.

Breeding at Maryland Zoo for Rozi was approved by the Association of Zoo and Aquariums Species Survival Program. She was found to be genetically compatible with all 3 of the breeding males at the zoo and the identity of the father is awaiting testing. Rozi is now one of 4 juvenile chimpanzees at the zoo, Lola, who was born to Bunny and Jack in July 2019; Violet, born to Raven and Louie in December of 2019; and Maisie, who was born in August 2020 at the Oklahoma Zoo and was then brought to Maryland Zoo in September 2020.¹

Chimpanzees learn how to get along in a group from birth by watching their mothers and other members of the group. They also will learn from the group how to feed, groom, “read” other chimp’s behaviors, interact with others, and where to sleep.

According to Maryland Zoo, there was 1 to 2 million wild chimpanzees living in the wild in 1900. Now, there are only about 150,000 chimpanzees left in the wild and are considered endangered due to poaching, habitat loss from logging, creation of farmland and other encroachment, and diseases introduced from humans.²

Rozi was named based on a public vote and details about her progress will be available on the Zoo’s website and social media channels.

Reference

• Maryland Zoo announces birth of a chimpanzee. News release. Maryland Zoo. July 9, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.marylandzoo.org/news-and-updates/2024/07/maryland-zoo-announces-birth-of-a-chimpanzee/
• Chimpanzee. The Maryland Zoo. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/chimpanzee/