Photo caption: After five days of public voting and just over 25,000 votes, the baby western lowland gorilla at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is named Zahra, which means “beautiful flower” in Swahili. Facts CR Status Critically Endangered Population Unknown Scientific Name Gorilla gorilla gorilla Height 4 to 5 feet when standing on two feet Weight up to 440 pounds Map data provided by IUCN. Recycling electronics that contain tantalum-including cell phones, computers, tablets, cameras, gaming consoles, hearing aids and GPS navigation systems-can help protect gorilla habitat by greatly reducing the demand for more expansive mining. Map of African Rainforests where Western Lowland Gorillas have been Spotted African Rainforest A couple of gorilla troops still inhabit the remote swamps of the Republic of Congo and in certain swamp areas, they exist in extremely high densities, up to ten individuals per square kilometer. The public can help protect western lowland gorillas’ natural habitat by making environmentally conscious decisions. One of the metals inside electronic devices, tantalum, is mined from areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where gorillas live. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the western lowland gorilla as critically endangered due to habitat loss, disease and poaching. Native to Africa, western lowland gorillas live in the forests of Gabon, Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. Great Ape House visitors can see the western lowland gorilla troop and meet an animal keeper at 11:30 a.m. Virtual visitors can stay up-to-date on Zahra’s milestones on the Zoo’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts with the hashtag #GorillaStory. Other members of NZCBI’s western lowland gorilla troop include Zahra’s brother, 5-year-old Moke, as well as a 41-year-old female named Mandara and her 14-year-old daughter, Kibibi. Zahra was born at the Zoo’s Washington, D.C., campus May 27 and is the second offspring for both 20-year-old mother Calaya and 31-year-old father Baraka.

In third place was Mkali, Swahili for “fierce,” which received 5,563 votes, or 20% of the total.

Lola, Yoruba for “greatness,” came in second with 7,894 votes, or 30% of the total. Zahra received 12,071 votes-50% of the total votes. It was one of three names that were offered for a public online vote from June 5 to June 9 on the Zoo’s website. After five days of voting and just over 25,000 votes, the winning name is Zahra, which means “beautiful flower” in Swahili. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s (NZCBI) 2-week-old western lowland gorilla received her name today.

Western lowland gorilla map