ROYAL OAK, MI – The Detroit Zoo wants your help naming its baby gorilla. Born August 8 to his mother Bandia, the baby gorilla is the first gorilla born in the zoo’s 96-year history.

Starting today, you can cast your vote here by choosing between these names:

• Usala – This name comes from the conservation corridor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the Kikumu language it also means “forest”.

• Amateka – This name means “history” in the Kinyarwanda language.

• Mbere – This name means “first” in the Kinyarwanda language.

• Lobeké – This name comes from the national park in Cameroon that is home to the highest density of western lowland gorillas in the world.

• Motema – This name means “heart” in the Lingala language.

Voting is open until Monday, September 9. The public can vote as many times as they like, with a minimum donation of $10 required for each vote.

The winner will be determined by the name that receives the highest donation amount. The zoo will announce the winning name shortly after the contest ends.

All proceeds from this naming contest will go to the SAFE Gorilla program (Saving Animals From Extinction).

The SAFE program leverages the collaborative efforts of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to protect wild gorilla populations through on-site gorilla conservation, research and monitoring, and targeted stakeholder engagement and education.

“This has been an incredibly fun and exciting time for our entire animal care team,” said Mike Murray, vice president of biological sciences at the Detroit Zoological Society. “Bandia is doing an amazing job as a first-time mother; the love, care and devotion she shows to her baby is simply remarkable.”

“We continue to monitor her and the baby closely and so far everything has gone according to plan. We are really looking forward to seeing this baby grow and thrive here at the zoo.”

The cub is now the fifth gorilla to call the Detroit Zoo home. The boy joins the troop with mother Bandia and father Mshindi, along with 20-year-old Tulivu and 11-year-old Nayembi, who all arrived at the zoo in August 2023.