Weekend Day Trip: See the SF Zoo's New Baby Gorilla

By Bay City News

The newest addition to the gorilla family will make her debut Saturday at the San Francisco Zooafter being named by the public.

The 5-month old baby gorilla at the San Francisco Zoo has been named Kabibe, zoo officials announced Friday morning.

The public voted on the moniker from a group of three names and Kabibe, which means "little lady" in Swahili, earned a majority of the votes, zoo spokeswoman Abbie Tuller said.

The name was announced the day before the infant western lowland gorilla will make her first public appearance at the zoo's Jones Family Gorilla Preserve.

Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, she will be on view with the rest of her six-member troop.

Kabibe was born on July 17 to Nneka and Oscar Jonesy. Her grandmother, the 33-year-old matriarch of the troop, Bawang, is taking on the role of caretaker for the baby, zoo officials said.

The other choices for the baby girl's name were Malaika, which means "heavenly messenger" in Swahili, and Kenura, which means "joy" in Kikuyu.

As part of the naming process, each vote cost $1 that is donated to the care of the gorillas at the zoo.

The zoo is located at the foot of Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway.

The San Francisco Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and admission is free for children 3 and younger, $11 for children ages 4-14, $17 for adults 15-64 and $14 for seniors 65 and older. Parking is $8 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays.More information on hours and prices is available here.

Here are driving directions to the zoo from the East Bay, from the zoo's official website:

• Take the Bay Bridge to San Francisco.
• After crossing the Bay Bridge, take 101 South.
• Follow 101 South to the 280 interchange.
• Take 280 South to the Westlake District – John Daly Boulevard exit.
• Make a right onto John Daly Boulevard and continue to Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35). Turn right onto Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35).
• At the Skyline/Great Highway junction, turn left onto the Great Highway.
• Get into the right lane and take the right turn into the Zoo Entrance on the Great Highway.

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