Earth Science News
ABOUT US
Critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo
stock image only
Critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo
by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) Jan 18, 2024

A critically endangered western lowland gorilla was born at London Zoo on Wednesday morning after a speedy 17-minute labour, the zoo said.

Western lowland gorillas, which inhabit dense and largely remote rainforests in west and central Africa, are classified as having a high risk of becoming extinct.

Numbers have declined by more than 60 percent over the last 25 years, due largely to deforestation, poaching and disease, according to the Zoological Society of London.

Soon after the birth around 9:30 am (0930 GMT) mother Mjukuu was spotted cradling her newborn, before allowing the troop's youngsters, Alika and Gernot, to examine the new arrival.

"We'll be giving mum and baby lots of time and space to get to know each other, and for the rest of the troop to get used to their new addition -- they're as excited as we are and can't stop staring at the baby," London Zoo's primates manager Kathryn Sanders said.

Zookeepers monitored Mjukuu throughout her pregnancy via CCTV cameras installed in the dens and found her "tenderly holding her newborn".

"When we returned to their back dens, we could see Mjukuu was starting to stretch and squat -- a sign that she was in labour," Sanders said.

The baby gorilla's father, Kiburi, arrived at London Zoo from Tenerife, Spain in November 2022 as part of the international conservation breeding programme for western lowland gorillas.

The name and sex of the newborn gorilla are yet to be determined.

Western lowland gorillas, which have brown-grey coats and auburn chests, are slightly smaller than other gorilla subspecies.

They also have wider skulls with more pronounced brow ridges and smaller ears and live in family troops, led by a male silverback, known to reach heights of up to 6 ft (182 cm) when standing upright.

The exact number of western lowland gorillas is not known as they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa but the World Wildlife Fund estimates there could be about 100,000.

Related Links
All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ABOUT US
Global study reveals increasing life expectancy and narrowing gender longevity gap
Alcala de Henares, Spain (SPX) Jan 18, 2024
A novel study, spearheaded by David Atance of Universidad de Alcala, Spain, and published on January 17, 2024, in PLOS ONE, offers fresh insights into global mortality trends over the past thirty years. This research categorizes countries into five distinct clusters, mirroring the continental configurations, and uncovers a trend of increasing life expectancy and diminishing disparities in mortality between genders. Historically, longevity has improved globally over two centuries. However, the patt ... read more

ABOUT US
Medicine for hostages, fresh aid enter Gaza: Qatar

47 buried in southwest China landslide

Wounded Gazans get medical care on French hospital ship

AiDash secures $50M for enhancing climate resilience in critical infrastructure

ABOUT US
Novel color holographic 3D display offers enhanced viewing angle

Riot Games to slash 530 jobs; While 'Pokemon with Guns' proves a blast

Scientists trap krypton atoms to form one-dimensional gas

Mongolia on brink of mega mining deal with French multinational

ABOUT US
France orders rare Atlantic fishing ban to protect dolphins

Injectable water filtration system could improve access to clean drinking water around the world

Water, water everywhere and now we may have drops to drink

Brazil town still feels trauma of mine dam collapse five years on

ABOUT US
Scientists warn missing Russian data causing Arctic climate blind spots

Canada hands control of rich Arctic lands to Inuit territory

Colombian mission to Antarctica analyzes climate change footprints

World's biggest iceberg 'battered' by waves as it heads north

ABOUT US
Norwegian Seaweed Farming: A Case Study in Sustainability and Local Community Involvement

Why European farmers are up in arms

World's largest database of weeds lets scientists peer into the past, and future, of global agriculture

Food from urban agriculture has carbon footprint 6 times larger than conventional produce, study shows

ABOUT US
Volcanic eruption in Iceland over: officials

Icelanders see little chance of return after volcano destroys homes

3 dead, dozens injured in major earthquake on China-Kyrgyzstan border

Extreme Congo floods leave 350,000 needing aid: UN

ABOUT US
Blinken to refocus on Africa as Russia, China make gains

Chad's junta-named MPs vote for new PM

Carbon-cutting benefit of cookstoves vastly overestimated: study

Russia and Niger pledge to strengthen military ties

ABOUT US
Activists decry Tibet 'cultural genocide' ahead of China rights review

Critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo

Woolly mammoth movements tied to earliest Alaska hunting camps

Global study reveals increasing life expectancy and narrowing gender longevity gap

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.