Any time a permanent resident of the National Zoo has a baby, there seems to be an "awwww" heard 'round the world. But when Mandara, a 26 year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a healthy baby earlier this month, there was more than just cuteness to celebrate.
Mandara and her baby, who has not yet been named, are members of a species that has been classified as critically endangered. Fewer than 200,000 of the majestic creatures inhabit the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, where they live under the constant threats of poaching, dwindling habitat, and the Ebola virus.
These first few weeks of the infant gorilla's life are a critical time. Out of concern for the baby's safety, zoo officials have not even gotten close enough to determine its sex. Mandara, however, is taking careful care of her baby. 10 year-old DC resident Max Block told the Washington Post "It's pretty amazing. She's been holding it, tickling it, stroking it on the head. . . . She's a great mom." Max raised $2,500 for a wildlife preservation group at a lemonade stand this summer.
Not only is Mandara's baby a promising new addition to an endangered species, the adorable newborn will provide the National Zoo with an opportunity to educate the public about the growing need for conservation.
Visitors can see the mother and baby, along with the other gorillas, in the Great Ape House between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
To read the full article, (and see an adorable picture!) visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011100697.html
Thanks Papa Goose for tipping us off to this story!
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Pet's Sixth Sense Saves Infant's Life
The Goose would like to bring you a special story today, provided to us by author Jean Barto. The following is an excerpt from her latest book, (POD) PET WONDERS:
"With joy and anxiety, we brought Alicia, our preemie, home from the hospital. We were happy to have our baby home, but anxious because her physical condition necessitated a heart monitor.
Now another baby, Mandy, an 80 pound Old English Sheepdog, who had had attention plus until Alicia arrived, was a little put out that she was not allowed near the baby. She was a bright, silly, sometimes stubborn dog, but lovable. She had always been fastidious before, but now she started pooping and peeing all over the house. I guess negative attention was better than no attention at all. After a few days, we allowed Mandy to come close to the baby and even lick her face. That changed everything. Using the rug as outside grass and a chair leg as a private fire hydrant stopped. She must have felt that, finally, she had a place back in the family inner circle.
The baby's room was next to ours, and we kept the doors open in case the heart monitor sounded an alarm. Days went by, and all went well. One night, Chuck felt Mandy scratching and pulling his arm. She was barking and whining to awaken us. Chuck jumped up. Mandy ran into the baby's room, Chuck close behind. The monitor had malfunctioned. The alarm had not sounded. Alicia had gone into cardiac arrest. We grabbed her and immediately started CPR. We brought her back. Thank God and Mandy.
Alicia is now a healthy college student. We will always wonder how Mandy knew something was wrong. Had Alicia made a sound or was Mandy so tuned into her labored breathing that she sensed a change? We'll never know, but will always be extremely grateful to our shaggy friend."
Told by Valerie Rayca
Written by JSB
A special thanks to Ms. Barto for contributing and spreading the good news!
"With joy and anxiety, we brought Alicia, our preemie, home from the hospital. We were happy to have our baby home, but anxious because her physical condition necessitated a heart monitor.
Now another baby, Mandy, an 80 pound Old English Sheepdog, who had had attention plus until Alicia arrived, was a little put out that she was not allowed near the baby. She was a bright, silly, sometimes stubborn dog, but lovable. She had always been fastidious before, but now she started pooping and peeing all over the house. I guess negative attention was better than no attention at all. After a few days, we allowed Mandy to come close to the baby and even lick her face. That changed everything. Using the rug as outside grass and a chair leg as a private fire hydrant stopped. She must have felt that, finally, she had a place back in the family inner circle.
The baby's room was next to ours, and we kept the doors open in case the heart monitor sounded an alarm. Days went by, and all went well. One night, Chuck felt Mandy scratching and pulling his arm. She was barking and whining to awaken us. Chuck jumped up. Mandy ran into the baby's room, Chuck close behind. The monitor had malfunctioned. The alarm had not sounded. Alicia had gone into cardiac arrest. We grabbed her and immediately started CPR. We brought her back. Thank God and Mandy.
Alicia is now a healthy college student. We will always wonder how Mandy knew something was wrong. Had Alicia made a sound or was Mandy so tuned into her labored breathing that she sensed a change? We'll never know, but will always be extremely grateful to our shaggy friend."
Told by Valerie Rayca
Written by JSB
A special thanks to Ms. Barto for contributing and spreading the good news!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Dog and Puppies Care for Abandoned Baby Girl
La Plata, Argentina
Argentinian farmer Fabio Anze awoke to a huge surprise Thursday morning: a baby girl nestled among his dog China's litter. The baby, who was abandoned by her 14 year-old mother, was just hours old when she was found and rushed to the Melchor Romero hospital. Despite having spent the cold winder night outdoors, she was in good condition thanks to the snuggling warmth provided by Anze's dogs. It is unknown whether the baby's mother left her in the dog pen, or if perhaps China discovered the infant in the woods and carried her home to her own puppies. Regardless, she accepted the new addition into her own brood with exceptionally good nature.
To read more, visit http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080822/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_argentina_dog
Argentinian farmer Fabio Anze awoke to a huge surprise Thursday morning: a baby girl nestled among his dog China's litter. The baby, who was abandoned by her 14 year-old mother, was just hours old when she was found and rushed to the Melchor Romero hospital. Despite having spent the cold winder night outdoors, she was in good condition thanks to the snuggling warmth provided by Anze's dogs. It is unknown whether the baby's mother left her in the dog pen, or if perhaps China discovered the infant in the woods and carried her home to her own puppies. Regardless, she accepted the new addition into her own brood with exceptionally good nature.
To read more, visit http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080822/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_argentina_dog
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pittsburgh Zoo Elephant Gives Birth to Baby Girl
Pittsburgh, PA, US
25 year old Savannah, longtime resident of the Pittsburgh zoo, gave birth to a 200 pound baby girl yesterday, after a grueling 21.5 month pregnancy.
Zoo officials are mum about the baby right now, declining to even reveal her name or her exact weight (200 lbs was a pre-birth estimate) until tomorrow's press conference. Spokeswoman Tracy Gray did comment "She's doing fine right now."
Taking good care of Baby is extremely important right now, as infant mortality in elephants is very common - about 30%. But, if everything goes smoothly, she may be able to come out into the elephant yard in at little as three days.
To read more and see pictures of Baby, visit http://post-gazette.com/pg/08192/896068-53.stm
Thanks to the Gander today for sending in this story.
25 year old Savannah, longtime resident of the Pittsburgh zoo, gave birth to a 200 pound baby girl yesterday, after a grueling 21.5 month pregnancy.
Zoo officials are mum about the baby right now, declining to even reveal her name or her exact weight (200 lbs was a pre-birth estimate) until tomorrow's press conference. Spokeswoman Tracy Gray did comment "She's doing fine right now."
Taking good care of Baby is extremely important right now, as infant mortality in elephants is very common - about 30%. But, if everything goes smoothly, she may be able to come out into the elephant yard in at little as three days.
To read more and see pictures of Baby, visit http://post-gazette.com/pg/08192/896068-53.stm
Thanks to the Gander today for sending in this story.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
After 8 "Deaths," Kristy Sanderson Looks Forward to Sweet 16
15 year-old Kristy Sanderson must be part feline, because she's living her ninth life. Born with serious heart problems, she was expected to live only a few weeks. Doctors attempted open-heart surgery on the infant with disastrous results; she died a total of 8 times on the operating table. Miraculously, the surgeons were able to resuscitate baby Kristy and fit her with the world's tiniest pacemaker.
Kristy's had to have the pacemaker changed out a few times since then. And, for the rest of her life, she'll have to get a new one every 8-10 years. Still, says the teen, "There’s barely a day that goes by when I don’t think how lucky I am to be alive."
Kristy is able to lead a normal life, and is looking forward to her 16th birthday.
Read the full story at http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/49709/Sweet-16-the-girl-who-died-8-times-as-a-baby
Kristy's had to have the pacemaker changed out a few times since then. And, for the rest of her life, she'll have to get a new one every 8-10 years. Still, says the teen, "There’s barely a day that goes by when I don’t think how lucky I am to be alive."
Kristy is able to lead a normal life, and is looking forward to her 16th birthday.
Read the full story at http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/49709/Sweet-16-the-girl-who-died-8-times-as-a-baby
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Woman Rescued from China's Earthquake Rubble Gives Birth
Urumqi, China
35 year old Zhang Xiaoyan was 8 months pregnant when China's disastrous earthquake toppled her apartment building, trapping her and her 63 year-old mother beneath 18 feet of rubble. For 50 hours, the two remained buried while rescue workers painstakingly chipped away at the building's ruin, aware that it could completely collapse at any moment. "Even if I didn't make it," said Zhang, "I just wanted my baby to survive."
She got her wish and more, as she and her mother were both pulled safely from the wreckage and today she gave birth to a healthy 7 lb, 4 oz baby girl. Zhang named her Ai, (love) in honor of the many people who helped to rescue her and support her in the last month of her pregnancy.
To read more about baby Ai, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368562,00.html
35 year old Zhang Xiaoyan was 8 months pregnant when China's disastrous earthquake toppled her apartment building, trapping her and her 63 year-old mother beneath 18 feet of rubble. For 50 hours, the two remained buried while rescue workers painstakingly chipped away at the building's ruin, aware that it could completely collapse at any moment. "Even if I didn't make it," said Zhang, "I just wanted my baby to survive."
She got her wish and more, as she and her mother were both pulled safely from the wreckage and today she gave birth to a healthy 7 lb, 4 oz baby girl. Zhang named her Ai, (love) in honor of the many people who helped to rescue her and support her in the last month of her pregnancy.
To read more about baby Ai, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368562,00.html
Monday, June 9, 2008
Prenatal Surgeries Give Babies A Second Chance
Texas Children's Fetal Center, US
When Macie McCartney was just a 4-month old fetus, she developed a tumor on her tailbone which began to sap her supply of blood. In a rare instance of prenatal surgery, doctors carefully extracted mother Keri McCartney's uterus, made an incision, and positioned baby Macie so that she could be operated on in utero. The benign tumor they removed was reported to be the size of a grapefruit. The surgery was a complete success with no complications, and after 10 more weeks of normal growth, Macie was born healthy. She is expected to go home with her parents on Saturday.
For pictures and details, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364500,00.html
In similar news, Australian surgeons performed a laparoscopic operation on a 22-week old fetus, in what they believe is the earliest prenatal surgery of this kind. Baby Leah, who developed "band syndrome" in which tissue wraps tightly around developing appendages and endangers their growth, was born in January. Although she did incur some damage to her right leg, doctors believe she will be able to walk.
To read more about baby Leah, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364450,00.html
News of medicinal triumphs like this never ceases to amaze me. I saw an episode of "House, MD" once where they did a prenatal surgery and I thought it couldn't be done in real life. It makes me proud, even though I'm not a doctor, to know that we can.
- Mother Goose
When Macie McCartney was just a 4-month old fetus, she developed a tumor on her tailbone which began to sap her supply of blood. In a rare instance of prenatal surgery, doctors carefully extracted mother Keri McCartney's uterus, made an incision, and positioned baby Macie so that she could be operated on in utero. The benign tumor they removed was reported to be the size of a grapefruit. The surgery was a complete success with no complications, and after 10 more weeks of normal growth, Macie was born healthy. She is expected to go home with her parents on Saturday.
For pictures and details, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364500,00.html
In similar news, Australian surgeons performed a laparoscopic operation on a 22-week old fetus, in what they believe is the earliest prenatal surgery of this kind. Baby Leah, who developed "band syndrome" in which tissue wraps tightly around developing appendages and endangers their growth, was born in January. Although she did incur some damage to her right leg, doctors believe she will be able to walk.
To read more about baby Leah, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364450,00.html
News of medicinal triumphs like this never ceases to amaze me. I saw an episode of "House, MD" once where they did a prenatal surgery and I thought it couldn't be done in real life. It makes me proud, even though I'm not a doctor, to know that we can.
- Mother Goose
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Miracle Baby Beats the Odds
Nottinghamshire, England
Jodie Percival lost her first son, Thane, to multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDK), which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys of an unborn baby. Her second son, Lewis, was born with serious kidney damage and now lives with just one kidney. Despite being on birth control, Percival became pregnant a third time. She and her fiance were heartbroken to learn that the baby would likely inherit the untreatable MCDK, and, eight weeks into the pregnancy, decided to terminate.
It seems, though, that the baby had other ideas. Some weeks after the procedure, Percival felt a fluttery sensation in her stomach. She was astounded to learn that the embryo had survived the termination and she was 19 weeks pregnant.
Doctors performed a scan one week later which revealed the baby's kidneys to be unhealthy, but they predicted that it would survive. Percival decided to give the baby another chance.
Late last year, baby Finley was born three weeks premature. Although he had suffered some kidney damage, doctors expect him to live a normal life.
For more information and an adorable picture, visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1024297/Mothers-anger-turns-delight-baby-survives-abortion.html
Jodie Percival lost her first son, Thane, to multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDK), which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys of an unborn baby. Her second son, Lewis, was born with serious kidney damage and now lives with just one kidney. Despite being on birth control, Percival became pregnant a third time. She and her fiance were heartbroken to learn that the baby would likely inherit the untreatable MCDK, and, eight weeks into the pregnancy, decided to terminate.
It seems, though, that the baby had other ideas. Some weeks after the procedure, Percival felt a fluttery sensation in her stomach. She was astounded to learn that the embryo had survived the termination and she was 19 weeks pregnant.
Doctors performed a scan one week later which revealed the baby's kidneys to be unhealthy, but they predicted that it would survive. Percival decided to give the baby another chance.
Late last year, baby Finley was born three weeks premature. Although he had suffered some kidney damage, doctors expect him to live a normal life.
For more information and an adorable picture, visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1024297/Mothers-anger-turns-delight-baby-survives-abortion.html
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