Zoo raises chimp on human colostrum after mum accidentally drops newborn (opens original article in a new tab)

A newborn chimpanzee at Rockhampton Zoo survived after being raised on human colostrum following an accident where its mother dropped it, causing a fractured femur. The baby, named Cassie, is being hand-reared with the help of donated colostrum from a human supporter, and is showing positive interactions with its mother and troop.

• Zoo curator Blair Chapman said the 19-year-old first-time mum, alpha female Sile, accidentally dropped the hours-old baby from a height, fracturing its femur.
• Cherie Rutherford, a councillor with the Rockhampton Regional Council, said a pregnant woman named Cassie donated colostrum for the baby to top up the two-hourly formula feeds.
• Baby Cassie is the zoo's first baby chimpanzee born in six years and is being hand-reared after being fitted with a cast following the fall.