Gorilla delivered in emergency C-section is growing, getting round-the-clock care at Fort Worth Zoo
A premature baby gorilla was delivered via an emergency cesarean section at the Forth Worth Zoo last month after her mother faced "life-threatening complications."
A baby gorilla was delivered early via an emergency cesarean section at the Forth Worth Zoo last month after her mother faced "life-threatening complications," the zoo announced.
The baby — named Jameela, which means "beautiful" in Swahili — weighed just 3 pounds and 1 ounce when she was born four to six weeks early Jan. 5, the Fort Worth Zoo said in a series of Facebook updates. Her mom has made a full recovery.
The zoo said the animal's mom, Sekani, was showing signs of preeclampsia, which it described as "a serious blood-pressure condition that can occur during pregnancy in both humans and primates."
After zoo staff and veterinarians consulted with human experts, including a local obstetrician and neonatologist, the team decided the emergency C-section would give both Jameela and Sekani the greatest chance at life.
"Primates are humans’ closest living relatives in the animal kingdom with many biological similarities," the zoo said on Facebook. "Our veterinary team has consulted with physicians for humans in the past to seek advice on particular cases involving primates."
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