The 24th of April was a very special day for “Cabarceno Zoo” as the first baby gorilla was born after 5 years of waiting. Who’d have known however, that this would end in a tragedy?
The mother was very happy about having the baby and loved him as much as human mothers love their babies, or even more. She cared for him and kept him always in her hands. But, by the 8th of May, Chelewa, the baby’s mother had killed it. This was a dramatic accident. It all happened while they were sleeping and Chelewa moved too fast. She crushed the baby and it died. It was an accident that Chelewa will never forgive herself for.
When Chelewa realised that her baby didn’t move, she rocked it thinking that it would move. But as time went by, she realised that it wasn’t going to move. And she couldn’t bear to leave it alone, after all it was her baby.
The caretakers of the zoo, tried to remove her baby by giving her some sweets but she didn’t care about the sweets, just about her baby. After trying to separate her several times the caretakers had no choice but to sedate her. Only then, could the vets confirm that the baby was dead.
That day, tears were streaming down everyone’s faces, both, humans and gorillas. And Chelewa, was the one who felt the worst. It took her a few days to realise the real situation and that her baby wasn’t coming back with her. Her only support now are her friends, like Monja, a gorilla who had always supported her and is glad to play with her again. Besides, Chelewa is in everyone’s hearts now, because both, gorillas and humans are closer to her, more than ever.
By: Paula Arratibel and Ainhoa Peña
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