Overview

• Baby Jameela, born prematurely on Jan. 5, is the first gorilla at the Fort Worth Zoo to be delivered via emergency C-section.
• The mother, Sekani, faced life-threatening complications due to preeclampsia, prompting the intervention of human medical experts.
• Despite the successful birth, Sekani showed little interest in her newborn, likely due to the absence of hormonal cues from a natural birth.
• The zoo staff is now focusing on pairing Jameela with a surrogate mother, Gracie, a 24-year-old gorilla with her own offspring.
• Jameela's birth marks a significant milestone for the zoo and the conservation of endangered gorillas.