FORT WORTH -- After the public sent in more than 8,800 votes, the Fort Worth Zoo's new baby gorilla has a name -- Augustus!
"Gus," as he will also be called, made history when he became the first gorilla born at the zoo on Dec. 5.
An exciting social media and in-park campaign allowed the public to choose between Grover, Gus and Mosi.
"Local celebrities also endorsed their favorite name and TCU’s SuperFrog actively campaigned on behalf of Gus. However, once Pittsburg State got wind of the contest, they encouraged their students to vote for the name that happens to share the name of their mascot, Gus the Gorilla. Within 24 hours, Gus surged from third place to first, surpassing Mosi and Grover," the zoo said.
The zoo also points out that Capt. Augustus "Gus" McCrae is a character in the miniseries "Lonesome Dove," which was shot in Fort Worth and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Zookeepers tell News 8 the young gorilla is currently teething and chewing on everything he can get his mouth on. Gorillas start to teeth at one month old. Gus currently has four teeth -- two upper and two lower.
Gus and his parents, Elmo and Gracie, can be found in the World of Primates exhibit starting March 12.
