A baby gorilla who came down with pneumonia after being born in a rare Caesarean section at San Diego Zoo has improved enough to be released from the hospital and visually introduced to the resident gorilla troop.
The baby gorilla's mum, 18-year-old Imani, went into labour at the zoo but was unable to complete the delivery. Imani has now recovered from her C-section and joined the park's other adult gorillas.
Zookeepers feel confident enough in the baby's condition that they have began meet-and-greets for her and the adult gorillas in the troop. "It's a very exciting day here at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Veterinary staffs felt confident in the baby's health to release her from the hospital, and this morning, we brought her back to the house where she started visual introductions to the troop," said Matt Gelvin, Senior Keeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Report by Jennifer Cordingley.