In one of a kind
operation, a British zoo witnessed the birth of a Western Lowland gorilla by a
'rare’ caesarean section.
Veterinarians at
Bristol zoo in western England called in expert medical help after the mother
Kera showed signs of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia. Professor
David Cahill, a gynecologist at a nearby hospital who has delivered hundreds of
babies by caesarean but never a gorilla, was drafted in to perform the
operation, one of just a handful ever carried out worldwide. "Having been
involved with the care of these gorillas over the years, with some trepidation
and excitement, we were invited to the zoo to assess the well-being of Kera,
because she was in late pregnancy and showed some signs of being unwell,"
said Cahill, who is also a professor in reproductive medicine and medical
education at Bristol University.
The now 11-day-old
gorilla is being cared for “around the clock” by the zoo’s veterinary team.
The gorilla’s mother,
Kera, appeared to be facing medical complications, so the zoo decided to
deliver the baby through caesarean section, John Partridge, senior curator of
animals at the zoo, said in a statement. He said, “It wasn’t a decision that we
took lightly.” “We needed to act fast in order to give the best possible
treatment to mother and baby, and to avoid the possibility of losing the baby,”
he further added.
The baby, who is yet to
be named, weighed just over two pounds, ten ounces. She is said to be doing
well now after having some difficulty breathing independently. She was helped
in the breathing process by the team.
The baby gorilla is not
on display and the zoo authorities did not say when she might be ready to meet
the public. The survival of the baby is seen as a miracle by the veterinarians.
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