Gorilla Nadiri gave birth to a health baby girl Friday around 11:30 a.m. The baby weighed 5 lbs. at her birth.
Nadiri walked to the other side of her den after giving birth, so keepers have stepped in to provide care for the baby.
However, Nadiri has made visual contact with her daughter and vocalizing towards her -- a sign of interest according to zoo keepers.
Zoo keepers are setting up a bedroom next to Nadiri's den in hopes that continued exposure will help her maternal instinct kick in.
Nidiri isn't an experienced mother, so zoo keepers tried to prepare her as much as possible. They trained her with a stuffed burlap object about the size of a newborn.
The father, 36-year-old Vip, has six other offspring.
The first 72 hours will be crucial for both parents for bonding, proper nursing, and adquate milk for the baby.
Many remember Nidiri's birth at Woodland Park Zoo nearly two decades ago. Nidiri's father died two weeks after she was born and her mother showed no interest in bonding with her. Fortunately, Nidiri was able to find a surrogate family of gorillas.
