Staff at Dublin Zoo are celebrating after a baby western lowland gorilla was born to first-time mother Kafi and father Bangui.
The cute little ape was born on April 1 after a gestation period of eight and a half months.
Keepers haven't yet been able to determine the sex of the baby as devoted mother Kafi has kept the infant close to her chest since birth.
Monkey seized during Finglas raid was being 'kept as a pet' by drugs gang
Team Leader of the African Plains at Dublin Zoo, Helen Clarke-Bennett said Kafi is doing a "fantastic job" first-time mother.
She added: "Bangui is proving to be an attentive father and at night has been sleeping close to Kafi and the baby.
"Kafi seems comfortable and at ease and we expect her to mix with the rest of the gorilla troop very soon.
Here's our pick of lesser-known interesting things to do in Dublin
"Since she arrived with us back in 2012, Kafi has witnessed other female gorillas give birth and raise their young which has been a huge help in teaching Kafi how to look after her own baby.
"This new birth is a great step forward for this critically endangered species.”
This is Bangui's first child since he arrived at Dublin Zoo in 2018 following the death of long-time alpha male ‘silverback’ Harry.
Dublin Zoo posts update on whereabouts of monkey seized in Finglas today
The term ‘silverback’ relates to the silvery white hair that develops on an alpha male's back and hips.
Bangui was quickly accepted as the new alpha-male of the troop and has begun his transformation into a silverback gorilla.
