PHILADELPHIA — A baby gorilla has made its debut at the Philadelphia Zoo.
The public got its first glimpse of the baby western lowland gorilla on Wednesday, five days after its 21-year-old mother, Honi, gave birth.
Zookeepers gave the mother and newborn a few days to recuperate before the animals rejoined 31-year-old dad Motuba and another female gorilla, Kira.
Staffers haven’t been able to determine the baby’s gender, since Honi has been holding it so closely. Like newborn humans, the zoo notes, baby gorillas rely completely on their mothers for care.
The zoo says it will host a naming contest on its website .
Western lowland gorillas, which inhabit African forests, are listed as critically endangered species.
The zoo also has two other male western lowland gorillas: 17-year-old Louis and 14-year-old Kuchimba, who is Honi’s son.
