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VIDEO: Baby gorilla born after a rare C-section

“I’ve done lots of Caesarean sections over the years and I read a little bit about the anatomy of a gorilla that morning.”

_88383082_gorilla Bristol Zoo Bristol Zoo

A BABY GORILLA has been successfully delivered after a rare Caesarean section at Bristol Zoo in England.

The mother, Kera, was showing symptoms of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia.

After being assessed by the zoo’s team of in-house vets, treatment was provided by a gynaecologist, Professor David Cahill.

gor gif Screengrab / BBC Screengrab / BBC / BBC

Speaking to BBC News, Cahill explained the process:

I’ve done lots of Caesarean sections over the years and I read a little bit about the anatomy of a gorilla that morning.

“The tissues are very much the same and the various layers of muscle and other strong tissues you have to cut through to get in are just like [a human]. The womb is just the same. The whole thing was weirdly familiar, but very strange.”
https://www.facebook.com/BristolZooGardens/videos/vb.91893721871/10153512541166872/?type=2&theater

John Partridge, senior curator of animals at the zoo, explained the significance of the event, stating: “The birth of any gorilla is a rare and exciting event, but the birth of a baby gorilla by caesarean section is even more unusual.

It wasn’t a decision that we took lightly – Kera was becoming quite poorly and 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.

The baby, who has yet to be named, needed help from vets before she was able to breathe independently, but is now doing well and being hand-reared by a small team of experienced gorilla keepers. She was born on 12 February, but details of the birth were just made public today.

bottle new Screengrab / BBC Screengrab / BBC / BBC

Kera was asleep during the procedure. She is now recovering and being monitored closely by keepers.

Read: Watch David Attenborough meet the biggest animal ever to walk on Earth

Read: These incredible images are up for awards in the world’s biggest photography competition

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    Mute v39e84kK
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    Jul 9th 2022, 12:41 PM

    “Aid” AKA more money for US bomb makers.

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    Mute Karl Phillips
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    Jul 9th 2022, 4:46 PM

    @v39e84kK: what would you have them do ( the Ukrainians ) turn the other cheek. A bully only understands one course of action.

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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Jul 9th 2022, 1:25 PM

    Russian bots out in force as per usual trying to shift the blame away from the only country responsible for this invasion – Russia.

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    Mute Fergus Quinlan
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    Jul 9th 2022, 9:35 PM

    @Seán Ó Briain: if it were that simple…… why the Minsk agreements….. please try break away from the stranglehold of the western media…

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    Mute Terry Brophy
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    Jul 10th 2022, 9:52 AM

    @Fergus Quinlan: pictures tell a thousand words, pictures are the inconvenient truth for Kremlin mudguards, nonetheless soldier on they do defending Russian depravity…

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    Mute Robert Lumezi
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    Jul 11th 2022, 12:18 AM

    @Fergus Quinlan: Glory to Ukraine. They are brave people. Being invaded by such large army and still resisting is inspiring. Slava… Down with Putlers dictatorship and fascism.

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    Mute Clay Pigeon
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    Jul 9th 2022, 10:05 PM

    Putin took off Minsk agreements (Russia did not comply with) off the table on 24 Feb when he sent 150k troops across the border around Ukraine, nit just Donbas region. He was hoping for a quick victory, like in Crimea 8 years ago. That did not happen. Slowly, Ukraine gets an upper hand (with western support) and sanctions strangle Russian economy. Ukraine constantly seeks negotiations with Russia, even sending messages to Putin via intermediaries. Yet Russian officials say they will only negotiate if Ukrainian army put their arms down, and strongly encourage to do this asap. Surrender is not an option for Ukraine, it is a fight for its freedom. “Those who trade freedom for a piece of security will end up without freedom nor security”

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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Jul 9th 2022, 11:15 PM

    Reports that Zelensky dismissed ambassadors in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Norway and India as well as Germany . No reason given yet.
    Either their countries are not providing enough aid, are not abiding fully by the sanctions or the ambassadors are not towing the Zelensky line.

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