Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes a Newborn Endangered Gorilla

A new baby is born to a gorilla family at the Lincoln Park Zoo

It's a happy time for The Lincoln Park Zoo as they proudly announced Tuesday the birth of a healthy baby western lowland gorilla last week. The baby gorilla who was born last Thursday is the 51st born at the Lincoln Park zoo and the first of endangered species. 

According to the zoo's animal care staff, new mother Bana, 17, is bonding and showing proper maternal instincts to her infant, while father Kwan, a 23-year-old silverback keeps a watchful eye over the two.

"We are cautiously optimistic about the new arrival. So far, Bana and the baby are showing all the signs of a happy, healthy mom-and-baby pair," Maureen Leahy, the zoo’s curator of primates, said in a statement.

The sex of the newborn is not yet determined and it is yet to be named, but the family appears to be doing well.

"Bana has been nesting in a quiet corner of the enclosure where she can nurture her infant,” said Leahy. "The baby is nursing regularly and demonstrating positive behaviors like reaching and gripping tightly."

Last November, Bana and Kwan had a baby girl who died nine days later of a skull fracture and head trauma due to unknown causes.

Since the first few weeks are critical for newborn gorillas, Lincoln Park Zoo's staff and veterinarians will continue to monitor the new family to make sure they all continue to

Visitors will be able to see the new family starting Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Regenstein Center for African Apes.

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