Mom, baby gorillas doing well after emergency cesarean
A mother gorilla and her baby are doing fine in a British zoo after a very rare delivery by emergency cesarean surgery.
The infant was born 11 days ago by surgical intervention after the mother showed signs of a potentially life-threatening illness.
Bristol Zoo officials said Tuesday the as-yet unnamed female baby needed help breathing at first but is now doing well and being treated around-the-clock by experienced gorilla keepers. The baby’s mother, Kera, is also recovering.
The baby was delivered by Prof. David Cahill, a gynecologist experienced at delivering human babies by cesarean. It was the first time he had used the procedure to deliver a gorilla.
He said there were signs the baby was unwell in her mother’s uterus and needed to be delivered as quickly as possible.
Oh Dear, a Gorilla has had a C-Section, perhaps she didn't try hard enough or practice her hypno birthing, damn that cascade of intervention
— Kirstie Mary Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) February 23, 2016
2 lb baby gorilla delivered by C section bc mama had pre-eclampsia. Such a cutie. I want one!!! https://t.co/3MGCObRkKc
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) February 23, 2016
This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Mom, baby gorillas doing well after emergency cesarean."