Premature baby gorilla has been delivered via emergency caesarean section at a US zoo after its mother suffered from a medical issue called preeclampsia.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Fort Worth Zoo documented the “historic and emotional” birth of the baby gorilla – Jameela on its Facebook page.
Jameela was born four to six weeks early with the help of medical specialists.
It is the first gorilla to be born via caesarean section in the zoo’s 115-year history.
Jameela – which means “beautiful” in Swahili – was born to 33-year-old Sekani, a western lowland gorilla.
The zoo in a Facebook post on Valentine’s Day, announced that the young primate on February 5.
It was Sekani’s fourth pregnancy, but this time, the zoo’s veterinarians sensed that she was exhibiting signs of preeclampsia – a serious blood pressure condition that can happen during pregnancy in both humans and primates.
The zoo, after confirming Sekani’s diagnosis, consulted with a local obstetrician, who noted that a caesarean section was needed to save both the mother and the baby.
Western lowland gorillas like Sekani are native to central Africa and are listed as critically endangered due to hunting and disease, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years.
Gorillas also have a low birth rate, making it difficult for them to recover from population decline.
