Pittsburgh Zoo welcomes newborn Western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium welcomed a new, adorable addition on Valentine's Day: a newborn baby gorilla.

The zoo released the first photos of the baby on Friday, a little less than a month after her arrival on Feb. 14, 2023. The newborn female gorilla is healthy and thriving under the care of her mom, Ibo, zoo officials said.

This is Ibo's second baby. The 32-year-old gorilla welcomed her first when she was just 8-years-old. The zoo said gorillas living in zoos can live into their 50s.

With this new baby coming later in life, Ibo is a great mom," Karen Vacco, Assistant Curator of Mammals at the zoo, said. "She is showing off the baby, cradling, and nursing. She naturally knows what to do and doesn't need any intervention from staff. We are tracking their progress, and they're both doing really well.

The baby does not have a name yet.

Officials at the zoo said they are holding a naming contest. You can submit a name suggestion for a $5 donation on its website. The top suggestions will be vetted by the staff and then go on for final selection.

This arrival is a "welcome addition to the species as a whole," zoo officials said.

Western lowland gorillas are listed as a critically endangered species due to their rapidly declining population.

The zoo said this new baby gorilla is the first of several additions expected this year. The institution will also celebrate its 125th anniversary in June.