Fort Worth Zoo welcomes male baby gorilla

A male western lowland gorilla was born Dec. 5, 2015, at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas. This is the first gorilla ever to be born at the Zoo, which is the only zoo in the nation to house representatives of all four great ape species - gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos. The yet-to-be-named ape is staying close to his mother as he gets acclimated to his surroundings in the Zoo's World of Primates exhibit. He will be viewable in indoor or outdoor exhibits at various times during the day, which will be dictated by weather conditions and his activity level. Jeremy Enlow/Fort Worth Zoo

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The Fort Worth Zoo has welcomed a newborn western lowland gorilla.

Zoo officials on Wednesday announced the birth of the male gorilla to first-time parents Gracie and Elmo. It’s also the first birth of a western lowland gorilla at the Fort Worth Zoo.

The gorilla was born last Saturday and has yet to be named. Zoo officials say the young gorilla will stay close to his mother while getting acclimated at the World of Primates exhibit.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers western lowland gorillas to be critically endangered due to poaching, habitat loss and disease in its native Republic of Congo.

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Online:

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