Meet Jameela, The First Gorilla Delivered Via Caesarean Section

A premature baby gorilla was delivered via emergency caesarean section at a US zoo after its mother suffered from a medical issue called preeclampsia.?

According to reports, the "historic and emotional" birth of the baby Gorilla named Jameela was documented by the Fort Worth Zoo on its Facebook page.?

The young primate was born four to six weeks early with the help of medical specialists.It is the first gorilla to be born via caesarean section in the zoo's 115-year history.Jameela - which means "beautiful" in Swahili - was born to 33-year-old Sekani, a western lowland gorilla, on 5 February, the zoo announced in a Facebook post on Valentine's Day.?

A serious blood-pressure condition that can happen during pregnancy

It was Sekani's fourth pregnancy, but this time, the zoo's veterinarians sensed that she was exhibiting signs of preeclampsia - a serious blood-pressure condition that can happen during pregnancy in both humans and primates.?

?After confirming Sekani's diagnosis, the zoo said its veterinarians consulted with a local obstetrician and determined that a caesarean section was needed to save both the mother and the baby.Western lowland gorillas like Sekani are native to central Africa, and are listed as critically endangered due to hunting and disease, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.?

?Their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund.Gorillas also have a low birth rate, making it difficult for them to recover from population decline.?

Neonatologist Robert Ursprung played a key role in the resuscitation and stabilization efforts for the baby gorilla, Jameela, born via emergency caesarean section at a U.S. zoo. Dr. Ursprung also contributed to developing a meal plan for the infant. Despite requiring critical respiratory support for a few hours post-delivery, Jameela stabilized well during the transition to life outside the womb.

Mother recovers completely

The mother, Sekani, made a full recovery, but attempts to reunite her with the baby were unsuccessful, as Sekani showed little interest in caring for Jameela. The zoo suspects that the lack of bonding could be attributed to Sekani not experiencing the hormonal cues associated with a natural, full-term birth.