The Audubon Zoo has welcomed a new baby western lowland gorilla.
They say this is the first gorilla birth at the zoo in 24 years.
Both baby and her mother Tumani are doing well, the zoo says. Staff are now monitoring the two in order to ensure they receive the care needed.
The birth, they say, is the result of a successful breeding between 13-year-old Tumani and the zoo's 27-year-old silverback gorilla, Okpara. This is the pair's first offspring.
Western lowland gorillas are considered to be critically endangered with population decline of more than 80 percent due to illegal hunting, disease, habitat loss and poaching.
The zoo says that as a result of the birth, the World of Primates exhibit will be closed to allow mother, baby, and the troop to bond.
Guests can still catch a glimpse of the infant while the gorillas are in their outside habitat.
A baby registry has also been created to celebrate mom and baby. See the registry, here.
The Audubon Zoo reopened after a three-month closure due to COVID-19 on June 3. The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas reopened on July 16.
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