WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A western lowland gorilla has been born at the National Zoo in Washington, park officials said.
Zoo officials said the gorilla's birth Saturday is significant because its species is considered critically endangered, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
Zoo staff have not yet gotten a close enough look at the gorilla to determine if it is male or female. It weighs between 4 and 5 pounds, zoo officials estimate.
The mother gorilla, Mandara, is holding the baby close to her chest. Her palm covers the baby's body, but its head and one arm is usually visible, zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said.
"She's holding the baby. She's very unlikely to set it down," Baker-Masson said. "Sometimes the hand was in a little ball, and sometimes the hand is spread out."
Mandara, who is 26 years old, has given birth to five other babies over the years. The baby gorilla's father is Baraka, who is also 16.
"This is a very critical time for the survival of the infant, and all precautions must be taken to ensure that Mandara and her baby are in an environment that is comfortable, safe and controlled." said Don Moore, associate director for animal care.
