Gorilla kisses her newborn at Jersey zoo

Mother Hlala Kahilli has given birth to a healthy baby westland lowland gorilla at the Durrell Wildlife Park park on Jersey.

Visitors were able to watch the gorilla holding her newborn to her chest and even appearing to kiss its forehead. The baby was born in the early hours of Thursday morning and so far the park not been able to ascertain its gender.

Mark Brayshaw Head of Animal Collection at Durrell said: “We are delighted with the great news and so far the mother is doing well, but as with all births we need to be extra cautious during the first few days. "

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At the moment the group including the new parents are all very relaxed and our keepers are remaining as hands off as possible as the group appears quite settled.” Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered and are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.