She so how grateful motherhood is!
This is a touching moment that a mother gorilla and her newborn baby have the first interaction and the National Zoo has captured down the precious moment.
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Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The mother Calaya gave birth to her son Moka, a western lowland gorilla, on Sunday at the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C.
The zoo is excited to have their first birth of a gorilla and they captured the special moment to share on the zoo's website.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The caring mother can be seen holding onto her baby and keeping her eyesight on it. She then gently kisses Moke several times before laying him down.
"The birth of this western lowland gorilla is very special and significant, not only to our Zoo family but also to this critically endangered species as a whole," Meredith Bastian, curator of primates, said in a statement to the National Zoo's website.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Animal keeper Melba Brown said zoo officials believed Calaya will be an excellent caregiver for her baby.
WASHINGTON (AP) — It took 57 games for the Washington Wizards to hold a team under 100 points this season.
Of course, Marcus Smart wasn't around for most of those.
Smart and the Wizards held Brooklyn to 12 points in the fourth quarter of their 107-99 victory over the Nets on Monday night. Washington was the only team in the NBA that hadn't kept an opponent in double digits this season, but the Wizards finally did it in Smart's second game with them.
“It took everybody,” Smart said. “That Brooklyn team as we all know, they don't back down from nobody. They're going to come out and test you on both ends.”
The 2022-23 Utah Jazz went the whole season without holding an opponent under 100, according to Sportradar. They were the first team that failed to hold a team under 100 since the 1990-91 Denver Nuggets. Denver also needed until game No. 74 to do it in 1986-87.
The Wizards acquired Smart from Memphis in a recent trade that moved him from one of the top teams in the Western Conference standings to the league-worst Wizards. He was the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with Boston, but he hasn't played much since being dealt to the Grizzlies in June 2023.
Smart has been dealing with an injury to his right index finger recently, but he made his debut for the Wizards last week and played again Monday. He scored 10 points in 21:38 against Brooklyn.
“There is some people that kind of probably slept — I haven't played in a couple years consistently, and they probably forgot about me — which is cool. I'm used to it,” Smart said. “I still do what I do.”
Brooklyn took a 97-96 lead on Trendon Watford's layup with 4:45 remaining. Then the Nets didn't score again until a couple of free throws with 13 seconds left.
Washington won despite 23 turnovers. Brooklyn committed 18 of its own.
“We weathered the storm,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “We didn't play a perfect game. We scored 40 points in the second half. We struggled to score at times. We're still learning chemistry with the new guys. But that didn't stop us from staying competitive and staying with the game. We really won the game tonight with our defense.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Washington Wizards guards Bilal Coulibaly (0) and Marcus Smart (36) high-five as Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford dives for the ball against Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart (36) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart (36) and Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart goes up to shoot against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)