Monkey-definitely cute! For the first time in nine years, a western lowland gorilla is born at London Zoo, raising new hopes for the critically endangered species

London Zoo has a new resident, in the form of an adorable young western lowland gorilla.

The little child was born to mother Mjukuu at 9.34am yesterday, after a quick delivery that lasted just 17 minutes.

Although the name is not yet known, its birth raises new hope for the species, which is currently considered critically endangered.

'To say we are thrilled with this new arrival would be a huge understatement; we all walked around with grins from ear to ear,” says Kathryn Sanders, primate department manager at London Zoo.

'We give mom and baby a lot of time and space to get to know each other, and the rest of the group to get used to their new addition. They are just as excited as we are and can't stop staring at the baby.'

While Mjukuu initially kept the child for herself, she soon allowed the younger members of the troop, Alika and Gernot, to meet the new arrival.

The gorilla keepers were performing their usual morning duties when they first noticed Mjukuu in labor.

“We started our day as normal, feeding the gorillas their breakfast and starting our cleaning routines,” Ms Sanders said.

'When we returned to their rear quarters, we could see that Mjukuu had started to stretch and squat – a sign that she was in labour.

'After a very quick delivery – just 17 minutes – Mjukuu was seen on camera tenderly holding her newborn and demonstrating her amazing maternal instincts by cleaning and checking on her baby.'

While Mjukuu initially kept the child to herself, she soon allowed the younger members of the troop, Alika and Gernot, to meet the newcomer.

The child's father is Kiburi, a male who arrived at London Zoo from Tenerife in November 2022 as part of an international breeding program for western lowland gorillas.

The zookeepers have kept their space so far and therefore do not yet know the gender of the child.

However, they have made sure to keep an eye on the mother and child through the CCTV cameras.

A spokesperson for London Zoo told MailOnline: 'The last gorilla child born here was a young male called Gernot in November 2015.

The zookeepers have kept their space so far and therefore do not yet know the gender of the child. However, they have made sure to keep an eye on the mother and child through the CCTV cameras

The child's father is Kiburi, a male who arrived at London Zoo from Tenerife in November 2022 as part of an international breeding program for western lowland gorillas.

“He's still there – and absolutely fascinated by the new kid.”

The news will be welcomed by conservation experts, who warn that the species' numbers have plummeted in recent years.

The exact number of gorillas is not known as they live in some of Africa's most dense and remote rainforests.

And while experts say “significant populations” exist, they warn that large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline.

“Due to poaching and disease, gorillas have declined by more than 60% over the past 20 to 25 years,” WWF explains.

'Even if all threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would need around 75 years to recover.'

HOW MANY WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS ARE LEFT IN THE WILD?

The exact number of animals left is unknown because they live in some of Africa's densest and remote rainforests.

However, recent estimates have shown that only 360,000 remain in their range.

Furthermore, scientists predict that the number of gorillas has declined by more than 60 percent over the past 20 to 25 years.

Bristol Zoological Society is taking part in a breeding program for western lowland gorillas, which is vital to the survival of this critically endangered species.

Bristol Zoo Gardens is home to a family group of seven western lowland gorillas, where two baby gorillas have been born since 2016.