London Zoo Celebrates Surprising New Addition
The zookeepers at London Zoo are gushing like new parents, because in a way they are. “To say we’re happy about this new arrival would be a huge understatement,” says primate section manager Kathryn Sanders. “We’ve all been walking around grinning from ear to ear.”
The grins are celebrating the birth of a western lowland gorilla, as yet unnamed. In fact, as yet unsexed. The zoo staff will remain hands-off while familial bonding commences or, as Sanders puts it, “We’ll be giving mum and baby lots of time and space to get to know each other, and for the rest of the troop to get used to their new addition – they’re as excited as we are and can’t stop staring at the baby.”
They’re excited because any birth of a critically endangered western lowland gorilla is cause for celebration. The population of the subspecies in the wild has declined by more than 60% over the last 25 years, a result of poaching and disease. The London Zoo is part of an international conservation breeding program that supports gorillas and other endangered species.
The new baby was born to Mjukuu and Kiburi, with the mum Mjukuu in labor for only 17 minutes, as the miracle of birth was monitored by the zoo staff via CCTV cameras. Moments after the arrival Mjukuu could be seen gently cradling her newborn and after a few minutes, she let the younger members of the gorilla troop examine the new babe.
This brief video of the growing gorilla family will make your day. You can contribute to the breeding program with a donation or an adoption here.
Photo credit: London Zoo
