From successful events and new animal additions to major exhibit expansions and national award recognition, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has had an exciting start to September.

On September 1, the Zoo’s one-week-old baby gorilla made her first public appearance in the outdoor gorilla exhibit. To name the 50th gorilla born at the Zoo, keepers suggested names and let fans vote for their favorite. The name Elle won the vote of over 2,500 fans, representative of the letter L, the Roman numeral for 50.

On September 3, the Cincinnati Zoo kept the excitement going with the announcement of a $12 million expansion to the Gorilla World exhibit. The renovations will create a new indoor habitat to allow for year-round visitor viewing of the Zoo’s western lowland gorillas. According to the Zoo’s website, the expansion will double the size of the current exhibit and provide multiple gorilla family groups with access to naturalistic settings, natural daylight and large interactive spaces, promoting healthy interaction among family members.