Baby gorilla born after rare Caesarean at Bristol Zoo

Updated
Baby Gorilla Doing Well After 'Extraordinary Caesarean Section'
Baby Gorilla Doing Well After 'Extraordinary Caesarean Section'


A baby gorilla was born by C-section at Bristol Zoo in the first successful gorilla caesarean in the UK.

The Western lowland gorilla, a girl that is yet to be named, was born weighing 2lbs 10oz after its mother Kera showed signs of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia.

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

Her 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 the Bristol Zoo, and one of only a handful of instances of it occurring worldwide. It is still very early days and the baby is not yet on show to the public.

Senior curator of animals, John Partridge, explained the significance of the event: "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.

"It wasn't a decision that we took lightly – Kera was becoming quite poorly and we needed to act fast in order to give the best possible treatment to mother and baby, and to avoid the possibility of losing the baby."

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