A baby gorilla named Afia has ventured outside for the first time at Bristol Zoo Gardens while tucked in a sling worn by her keeper.
Sky News report that the seven-week-old Western lowland gorilla was born by emergency caesarean in February and is under 24-hour care by a team of four keepers.
Her mother, Kera, has been critically ill after showing signs of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia.
The birth of Afia was the first time a gorilla had been born by a caesarean procedure at Bristol Zoo, and one of only a handful which have occurred in the world.
Her mother, Kera, has been critically ill after showing signs of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia.
The birth of Afia was the first time a gorilla had been born by a caesarean procedure at Bristol Zoo, and one of only a handful which have occurred in the world.
Afia clung to her keeper Lynsey Bugg as she was taken outside for the first time on Wednesday.
Ms Bugg, curator of mammals at the zoo, said: "As she gets older we want her to learn all parts of the enclosure so hopefully when we can get her back in with the family she'll already have a head-start.
"This is the first step and it's a spring morning, it's a bit sunny but it's still a bit chilly so we want to keep her nice and warm, but it's nice to give her some fresh air, stimulation and a change of scenery.
"To start with she was quite alert and quite interested and then I think she felt a little of the chilly wind and she tucked herself deep into my fleece and then she went to sleep.
Ms Bugg, curator of mammals at the zoo, said: "As she gets older we want her to learn all parts of the enclosure so hopefully when we can get her back in with the family she'll already have a head-start.
"This is the first step and it's a spring morning, it's a bit sunny but it's still a bit chilly so we want to keep her nice and warm, but it's nice to give her some fresh air, stimulation and a change of scenery.
"To start with she was quite alert and quite interested and then I think she felt a little of the chilly wind and she tucked herself deep into my fleece and then she went to sleep.
"Our end game is to try to get her back with her family. We don't want an animal that's only living with humans - to me that's the opposite of what we're trying to do here."
Source: SkyNews
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