Melbourne Zoo has announced that they have a new member in their family. At 6:05pm yesterday the 7th gorilla born at Melbourne Zoo was welcomed into the world.
Mother Kimya was in the presence of Otana, the baby’s father and the group’s older females, Julia, G-Ann and Yuska. Otana and G-Ann had a high level of interest in the baby while Yuska wasn’t fazed by the birth choosing to stay next door in her night den. She was the first gorilla to give birth in Australia.
Melbourne Zoo first had a gorilla birth in 2000. Kimya moved to Melbourne from Taronga Zoo in October 2013. Otana had moved from the Howlett’s Wild Animal Park in the United Kingdom a month earlier. The pair are participating in an international breeding program to help save their species.
Currently keepers are unaware of the infant’s sex.
Photo Credits: Harna/Melbourne Zoo
