A baby gorilla has been born at Bristol Zoo, bringing hope for the future of a critically endangered species.
Keepers found the little western lowland gorilla nestling in its mother’s arms in the Gorilla House on Wednesday morning.
Kala, nine, has given birth naturally overnight, with dad, a silverback called Jock, just metres away and the rest of the troop nearby, the zoo said.
Lynsey Bugg, the curator of mammals at Bristol Zoo, said both Kala, who came to the zoo from Germany in 2018, and her baby were doing well.
“She is being very attentive and taking good care of her baby,” she added.
“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 infant joins a troop of six gorillas at the zoo that are part of a breeding and conservation programme.
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered primates from Cameroon, Central Africa.
They are hunted for meat and the young are sold as pets, often only to end up abandoned or dying of starvation, the zoo said.
Bristol Zoo also welcomed golden lion tamarin twins this week.
The tiny pair, who weigh just 50gms each and are 10cm long including their tails, were born on Tuesday night.
The twins, who live with mum Missy and dad Dourado, are thriving, the zoo added.
