On the evening of March 12, 2014, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrated the arrival of a precious new addition—a baby girl born to Imani, an 18-year-old gorilla. The birth took place at 6:30 p.m., following an eventful day. As Imani showed signs of labor, the park's animal care and veterinary teams monitored her closely. However, when progress stalled by nightfall, the team swiftly transported her to the park’s veterinary hospital, where she underwent an emergency C-section to safely deliver her beautiful baby.
A team of experts from San Diego Zoo Global, alongside specialists from UCSD Medical Center, successfully delivered a full-term baby gorilla weighing 4.6 pounds. The delivery was assisted by a veterinary surgeon and human neonatal experts. Despite a challenging birth, the newborn is now under intensive care at the zoo’s veterinary hospital, receiving oxygen and fluids to address some post-labor complications. Meanwhile, Imani, the mother, is recovering well from surgery in the comfortable and familiar gorilla bedroom area.
"Looking back, the C-section was undoubtedly the right choice," said Nadine Lamberski, associate director of veterinary services at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, about the newborn gorilla. "We believe the fetus's health would have been at serious risk if we had delayed the surgery any longer."
This marks the first baby for Imani and the 17th gorilla born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The park is now home to eight gorillas, including the new addition. The group includes four females—Vila, Kamilah, Kokamo, and Imani—two young males, Monroe (born at the park in 2011) and Frank (born at the San Diego Zoo in 2008), and Winston, the silverback male who leads the troop.