Repeatedly rejected baby gorilla will switch zoos

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Zoo says a baby gorilla initially raised by human keepers wearing hairy vests is ready to be placed with other gorillas and will move to the Columbus Zoo.

The young female gorilla named Kamina was born in August at the zoo in Oklahoma City but was shunned by her mother, so she was sent to Cincinnati in September. The human surrogates taught her to act like a gorilla and then placed her with two female gorillas.

When they didn’t bond with her, keepers decided Kamina’s best option is moving to Columbus. Ron Evans, the Cincinnati Zoo’s curator of primates, says such introductions are delicate and don’t always work out.

Officials are working out details of her transfer to the Columbus Zoo, which has previous experience with surrogacy placements.