Como Zoo in Minnesota welcomes its first gorilla birth

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday announced the first-ever birth of a baby gorilla at the facility.

Twelve-year-old Alice the gorilla gave birth to a 4-pound baby boy. The birth is the first for Alice and the 29-year-old father, Schroeder.

It's also a first for the zoo, which is considered a leader in gorilla care and conservation.

So far the zoo is giving Alice and the as-yet-unnamed baby space to bond.

"Gorilla mothers are very protective of their babies," a release from the zoo said. "A gorilla mother will carry the baby on her chest for the first three months. At about 6-months-old the baby will move to ride on the mother's back and begin playing and moving around on the ground close to mother."

"Gorillas are very family oriented," Jo Kelly, senior zookeeper, said. "Mom will let other family members see the baby and they will take their cues from mom as to how close they can be."

The Como Zoo is one of 52 facilities across the United States that takes part in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan.