Dublin Zoo has announced the birth of a new baby gorilla but there's some confusion about its sex.
The Western Lowland gorilla was born to mother Vana and father Bangui over the weekend but keepers have been unable to determine the sex of the infant as Vana has been keeping the baby close to her chest since the birth.
The unnamed gorilla is the second baby gorilla born in the zoo this year with Vana giving birth to the healthy infant at 12:40pm on Saturday October 12.
The newborn weighs around 2.5kg and is the second off-spring of father Bangui, joining half-sister Asali who was born in April 2019.
Aisling Kenneally, Zoo Keeper at Dublin Zoo said that: “We’re delighted to announce that a second baby gorilla has been born at Dublin Zoo this year.
"As western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, it’s amazing that we have had not only one but two new births within a few months.
"Vana is an amazing mum and is extremely protective of her little one. Vana and the baby were introduced to the rest of the female gorillas yesterday and are settling in well.
"Big sister Asali, has shown huge interest in her younger sister and the duo have been bonding over the past couple of days. We’re so excited to see both youngsters grow up and play together."
To celebrate the latest arrival, Dublin Zoo will be hosting a naming competition, so keep an eye on the Dublin Zoo social media channels to be in with the chance to name the baby gorilla and win a prize of a family day pass.
