Baby Gorilla Born Through Rare Emergency C-Section in Texas Zoo

In a Texas Zoo, doctors performed a rare emergency C-section on a gorilla as the primate started laboring five weeks early.

Baby Gorilla Born Through Emergency C-Section

While this was the mother gorilla's fourth pregnancy, Sekani, the pregnant mother gorilla, exhibited preeclampsia signs that were identical to human mothers. She held her head like she had an intense headache.

Following the confirmation of Sekani's diagnosis, zookeepers from Fort Worth Zoo reached out to some gynecologists to help with the emergency labor. It was then determined that, in order to save both the mother and the baby, an emergency cesarean section was necessary.

Collaborating with some vets, these specialists performed a rare emergency c-section birth five weeks earlier than expected. Such a procedure was life-saving for both the baby gorilla and the mother.

The newborn gorilla needs immediate intervention. Dr. Rober Ursprung, a neonatologist, aided the team at the zoo with stabilization, resuscitation, radiographs, and respiratory support.

After this birth, Sekani experienced struggles in bonding and caring for the female baby gorilla, which zookeepers have been caring for around the clock. Experts hope Gracie, another female gorilla, could become a surrogate for the baby primate.

The baby gorilla, named Jameela, is the third one born in the zoo's history of 115 years. However, Jameela is the first one born through a c-section.

Though several attempts have been made to reunite the baby and her mother, Sekani has exhibited little interest in caring for Jameela. Experts think the mother may not have experienced the hormonal cues following a full-term and natural birth.

The staff later began training Gracie, a 24-year-old female gorilla, to become Jameela's surrogate mother. Gracie has two young and has already been trained to present her young to zookeepers for a visual examination.

Gorillas like Sekani, western lowland gorillas, are critically endangered because of disease and hunting.

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A Novel Feat

Dr. Jamie Walker Erwin, Dr. Ursprung, and Dr. Dennis Occkiogrosso led the surgery. All of them were more used to working with human patients than animals.

Dr. Erwin explains that participating in the c-section birth of Jameela is one career highlight. The doctor further expresses feelings of privilege and honor to help with the endangered species' care and offer expertise to the vet staff of the zoo.

Dr. Ursprung shares that it is credible to note the similarity of the mother-infant pair with what the doctor observes among babies born in similar circumstances. The baby required critical respiratory support a few hours after being taken. However, she stabilized nicely as the baby gorilla transitioned to life beyond the womb. Jameela also exhibited features that are typical for a slightly premature human baby.