26/09/2022
I love this!!!
“I took my sons (pictured here 12yo & 10yo) to the zoo this week. A mama gorilla was very tenderly nursing her 2-year-old baby.
A young male zookeeper was there, answering questions. He looked fresh out of college and a bit awkward, but was very enthusiastic about the animals.
My 10-year-old son asked him: “How long do baby gorillas nurse for?”
The zookeeper responded: “Oh, usually about 3 to 5 years. Do you have any guesses as to why humans don’t *usually* breastfeed their babies that long?”
My knee-jerk reaction was to be mortified that this young man was about to say something ignorant. My 12 and 10-year-old sons froze, unsure of how to answer the question.
Thankfully, the young zookeeper didn’t skip a beat. He immediately answered his own question:
“Because, sadly, the human community doesn’t help out human mothers in the same way that the gorilla community helps out gorilla mothers. All the gorillas in the group look after the baby and support the mama. This way, the mama gorilla can get the breaks and rest she needs. You see, all of the gorillas work together to make sure the baby can get the healthiest start possible.”
Words and picture from Jess K. Thank you for allowing me to share!
**This is in no way to shame non-breastfeeding parents. Just sharing a very interesting story about gorillas and how long they feed their babies!**