London Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a baby gorilla who is considered to be part of a critically endangered subspecies in positive development.
The western lowland gorilla was born at London Zoo in the United Kingdom to parents Mjukuu and Kiburi, joining two other siblings, the zoo said in a press release. The gender of the baby has not yet been confirmed.
The new arrival marks a special moment as the subspecies has been left on the brink of extinction due to disease and poaching, the statement said.
Primate manager Kathryn Sanders said of the happy arrival: “We started the day as normal — we gave the gorillas their breakfast and started the cleaning routine. When we got back to their back den, we could see that Mjukuu had started to stretch and crouch – a sign that she was in labor.”
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Critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo.
Richard Gardner/Shutterstock
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“After a very quick birth – just 17 minutes – Mjukuu was caught on camera gently holding her newborn and showing off her wonderful motherly instincts – cleaning and examining her child.”
In just 25 years, the number of western lowland gorillas has declined by more than 60% — however, this latest news gives hope that the species will rebound.
The arrival of the baby gorilla was made possible as part of the international conservation program for the breeding of western lowland gorillas at the London Zoo, which ensures the preservation of a healthy population of the gorilla subspecies, according to the press release.
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Critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo.
Richard Gardner/Shutterstock (
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In November 2022, Kiburi’s father was transported to London Zoo from Tenerife as part of a breeding program that led to the conception of the new arrival.
The child will remain in the institution in close contact with the mother for six months after birth.
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“To say we’re happy for this newcomer would be an understatement — we were all walking around grinning from ear to ear,” Sanders said of the new addition.
“We’ll give mum and baby plenty of time and space to get to know each other and the rest of the group to get used to their new addition – they’re just as excited as we are and can’t stop staring at the baby,” she added.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education