*Applications are now closed. Thank you for your applications.

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Ueno Zoo is seeking name suggestions for Western Gorilla born on May 31, 2022. Please review the following guidelines and submit your name suggestion.

This breeding of Western Gorilla is the result of a joint breeding program conducted by our zoo and Chiba City Zoological Park.


Western Gorilla baby
(Date of photo: August 4, 2022)
Application period
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 - Wednesday, August 31, 2022

How to apply
Please choose one of the following six name candidates, devised by Ueno Zoo and Chiba City Zoological Park, and cast your vote via the submission form.

*Please limit your entry to one per person.
*There will be no ballot boxes set up inside the park.
*Applications via email or postal mail will not be accepted.

Name candidates
① Apricot (Anzu; its alternative name, Karamomo, is derived from the mother's name "Momoko" and the names of her sisters.)
② Plum (named after her mother "Momoko" and her sisters)
③ Touka (Peach blossom. Named after her mother "Momoko" and her sisters' names)
④ Hikari (A beacon of hope for the endangered Western Gorilla)
⑤ Plum (meaning plum in English, named after her mother "Momoko" and her sisters)
⑥ Momoe (named after her mother "Momoko" and her sisters)

About voting
　​Please vote using this registration form.

　【問い合わせ先】上野動物園 教育普及係　03-3828-5171（代表） ※受付時間は9時30分〜17時
　【締　　　　切】2022年8月31日（水）送信分まで有効*Applications are now closed.

Selection Method
The name with the most votes will be chosen. The chosen name will be announced on Thursday, September 8th. is.

Souvenirs
We will give everyone who votes an original wallpaper of a baby Western Gorilla as a gift. You can get it from the screen that appears when you complete your vote.

*There are no other application benefits besides those listed above for this recruitment.
Furthermore, we will not be inviting the person who named the animal to the zoo.

About the child who was born

Birthday: Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Number of animals: 1
Sex: Female
Parents: Mother: Momoko, 39 years old (38 years old at the time of birth)
Father: Haoko, 28 years old
Current situation
Momoko, the mother, fell ill due to severe anemia and was unable to breastfeed her baby after giving birth, so she was switched to artificial rearing on June 2nd. The baby's weight has exceeded 3 kg, and it was confirmed on July 25th that its lower front teeth had begun to erupt. Furthermore, as Momoko's condition is improving, regular reunions between Momoko and the other gorillas are being held in preparation for returning the baby to the group.

Breeding conditions

Current status of animal care at our zoo (as of August 10, 2022)
7 individuals (2 males, 5 females) *This includes the offspring born this time.

- Male "Haoko" 28 years old, born August 21, 1993
Arrived from Taronga Zoo in Australia on June 27, 2007.
"Riki" 4 years old, born at our facility on October 9, 2017
- Female "Toto" Estimated age 43 Born in 1978
Arrived at the zoo from Shizuoka City Nihondaira Zoo on July 9, 1999.
Momoko, 39 years old, born June 3, 1983
Arrived at the zoo from Chiba City Zoological Park on December 2, 2008.
Komomo, 12 years old, born November 14, 2009 at our facility.
Momoka, 9 years old, born at our facility on April 24, 2013.

Breeding situation in Japan (as of December 31, 2020)
6 zoos, 20 animals (10 males, 10 females)
Source: 2020 Western Gorilla Domestic Pedigree Registry [Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums]

(August 10, 2022)
(September 1, 2022: Added information regarding the end of the application period)