Zoo rearing a rarity after gorilla born by caesarean

A BABY western lowland gorilla has been born at a British zoo after an extremely rare emergency caesarean.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Feb 2016, 07:18 BST
Updated 23rd Feb 2016, 07:20 BST
The 11-day-old western lowland gorilla feeds, above, and, left, mother Kera with keeper Mel Gage at Bristol Zoo.The 11-day-old western lowland gorilla feeds, above, and, left, mother Kera with keeper Mel Gage at Bristol Zoo.
The 11-day-old western lowland gorilla feeds, above, and, left, mother Kera with keeper Mel Gage at Bristol Zoo.

The 11-day-old infant, a girl, was delivered after her mother showed symptoms of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia.

The baby, who is yet to be named, was born at Bristol Zoo Gardens weighing just over a kilo (2lbs 10oz).

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She needed help from vets before she was able to breathe independently but is now doing well and is being hand-reared round the clock by a small team of experienced gorilla keepers.

Handout photo issued by Bristol Zoo Gardens of a baby western lowland gorilla which has been born at Bristol Zoo after a very rare emergency caesarean.Handout photo issued by Bristol Zoo Gardens of a baby western lowland gorilla which has been born at Bristol Zoo after a very rare emergency caesarean.
Handout photo issued by Bristol Zoo Gardens of a baby western lowland gorilla which has been born at Bristol Zoo after a very rare emergency caesarean.

The baby’s mother, Kera, is recovering and is being monitored closely by keepers and the zoo’s in-house veterinary team.

It is the first time a gorilla has been born by caesarean at Bristol Zoo and one of only a handful of instances of it occurring worldwide.

John Partridge, senior curator of animals, said the baby gorilla – whose father is called Komale – was not yet on show to the public.

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“The birth of any gorilla is a rare and exciting event but the birth of a baby gorilla by caesarean section is even more unusual,” he said.

Despite having delivered hundreds of babies by caesarean in his career, this was the first time Prof Cahill had delivered a baby gorilla by this procedure.