Critically Endangered Gorilla Born At Bristol Zoo
A critically endangered western lowland gorilla has been born at Bristol Zoo.
It was born in the early hours of Wednesday morning (19/08) in the Gorilla House at the zoo, with nine-year-old mother Kala giving birth naturally.
Keepers arrived to find the baby nestling in its mothers arms.
Lynsey Bugg, Curator of Mammals at Bristol Zoo, says everyone there is thrilled.
"There is something very special about seeing a new-born baby gorilla, they are such an iconic and charismatic species," she said.
“She mum Kala is being very attentive and taking good care of her baby.
"It’s very early days but we are cautiously optimistic.
"The early signs are good and the baby looks to be a good size and is strong.”
The baby joins a troop of six gorillas at the Zoo, which are part of a breeding programme to help safeguard the future of the species.
One of Bristol Zoological Society’s flagship conservation projects focuses on western lowland gorillas in Monte Alén National Park, Equatorial Guinea – an area highlighted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as critically important for the conservation of this species.
For more than 20 years The Society has also supported a sanctuary in Cameroon which helps look after orphaned gorillas and chimpanzees.
Gorillas are hunted for their meat and their young are regularly taken and sold as pets, often only to end up abandoned or dying of starvation.
Visitors to the Zoo should be able to see the new gorilla as they pass through the Gorilla House on the Zoo’s new one-way route.