The Fort Worth Zoo is celebrating its newest arrival, a baby gorilla named Jameela, the first gorilla to be born via cesarean section in the zoo’s…
"Sekani is a 33-year-old gorilla in our troop. She's been an excellent mom before. She's never had any complications. She’s raised all of her other babies, so we were really optimistic that this was going to go well,” said Associate Veterinarian Sarah Cannizzo.
Erwin’s consulted with the zoo for years. But while she’s delivered hundreds of human babies, she’d never operated on a primate.Within two days, the women assembled a volunteer medical team of both human and animal experts to fill an operating room on zoo property.After administering steroids to help strengthen the baby's lungs, they put Sekani under anesthesia before beginning a procedure that Erwin said was shockingly familiar.
A neonatologist was also on-site to help zoo staff stabilize the baby, who was delivered about a month early, and ensure her lungs were strong enough to survive. “It's a huge responsibility. I love it but it's a huge responsibility. They are critically endangered in the wild, so every birth matters. Every birth counts,” she said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Premature gorilla born at Fort Worth Zoo in emergency C-sectionThe gorilla was born prematurely, four-six weeks early.
Read more »
Walmart employee killed at distribution warehouse in Fort WorthA forklift driver at a Walmart distribution center in Fort Worth was killed on Friday morning.
Read more »
Woman killed in forklift accident at Fort Worth Walmart distribution centerA forklift worker died from work-related injuries in Fort Worth on Friday morning, city fire officials say.
Read more »
Fort Worth ISD to undergo layoffs soon, impacting employeesAn upcoming layoff may impact dozens of Fort Worth Independent School District employees.
Read more »
Fort Worth detective arrested, accused of domestic violenceA Fort Worth Police detective was arrested Wednesday after being accused of assault family violence, the department confirms.
Read more »
The Mavericks Let the Good Times Roll in Fort Worth's StockyardsA near-capacity crowd at Tannahill's Tavern in Fort Worth on Friday couldn't get enough of The Mavericks.
Read more »