New Arrival: Baby gorilla makes zoo debut

The tiny gorilla born last week was unaware of the big hope resting on it as an endangered species, as the infant was blissfully embraced by its mother Tuesday at the Gladys Porter Zoo.

The western lowland gorilla, yet to be named, was born Jan. 15 at 6 a.m. and made its public debut Tuesday morning, the zoo announced in a press release.

As a participant in the Species Survival Plan for select facilities, the Brownsville zoo aids in breeding rare and endangered gorillas to maintain genetic diversity and demographic stability, the release said. The Species Survival Plan is sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Martha, the baby’s mother, swaddled the infant, patting it on the back and enveloping it in her arms as wind swirled through the Gorilla Island zoo habitat. For a few moments, Martha sat beside the water and delivered what looked like kisses on the baby’s small furry head.

"She’s a good mom," zoo facilities director Jerry Stones said in the press release. "Martha’s been nurturing babies since before she had one."

Moja, the zoo’s silverback gorilla, and Martha are the baby’s parents. The new gorilla makes Martha a mother of five.

Zoo officials reported that the mother is constantly cradling her baby and is nursing normally. Officials said the mother’s continuous embrace has made it difficult to determine the baby’s gender, but that it is believed to be a male. The zoo noted that mother and baby spent their first week in an enclosure separate from the group to ensure a close bond. The zoo said on Tuesday the other gorillas were very curious to see the newest addition to their troop.

Spokeswoman Cristina Caballero said a name for the baby would be easier to pick once its gender is determined. She said a successful breeding program has led the Brownsville zoo to become home to three generations of gorillas, making for a troop that currently has five males and seven females, plus the new baby.

On average, a gorilla’s gestation period is eight and a half months, and a newborn gorilla may take its first steps as early as 3 months of age, the zoo release said.

For more information about the zoo or its habitats, call (956) 546-7187 or visit gpz.org.