Baby Gorilla Born At Oklahoma City Zoo

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden welcomed a new Western lowland gorilla Tuesday morning.

Emily, 29, is now a mom to five offspring. Togo, 27, is now a dad to two offspring.

The sex of the infant is unknown, zoo officials said.

“Emily appears to be doing well and is very attentive to her infant,” said Laura Bottaro, Zoo curator. “Mom and baby are bonding but should be on view during normal Zoo hours.”

Zoo officials said Western lowland gorilla infants are born after a nine-month gestation and are dependent upon their mothers for the first two years of their lives. Growing at twice the rate of a human baby, they can crawl and ride their mother's back at three months. Western lowland gorillas are endangered in part due to destruction of habitat and illegal hunting, zoo officials explained.