UK gynaecologist delivers first caesarean baby gorilla

A rare baby gorilla has become the first in the UK to be successfully delivered through an emergency caesarean surgery - performed by a leading gynaecologist.

The mother, Kera a critically-endangered Western lowland gorilla, was operated upon after she was diagnosed with life-threatening pre-eclampsia [a disorder in pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure, sometimes with fluid retention and proteinuria]. A small team of experienced gorilla keepers is attending round the clock to the gorilla infant.

Tests revealed her baby was becoming unresponsive and keepers at Bristol Zoo called in doctors from the local NHS maternity hospital.

The doctors carried out an emergency C-section on the 11-year-old mother to deliver the baby female weighing 2lbs 10oz on 12 February.

The baby was pulled out of its mother's stomach before vets performed emergency resuscitation. The operation was the first successful C-section delivery of a gorilla in the UK - and one of less than 10 in the world.

The baby is now being given round-the-clock care by a team of experts at Bristol Zoo.

Professor David Cahill, expert in reproductive medicine at Bristol University and gynaecologist at Bristol's St Michael's Hospital, who has performed hundreds of human caesarian operations in his career, said delivering the baby gorilla was "something special".

He added, "Along with having my own children, this is probably one of the biggest achievements of my life and something I will certainly never forget, '' the online edition of The Telegraph reported.

Explaining the significance of the event, senior curator of animals, John Partridge,  said, ''The birth of any gorilla is a rare and exciting event; but the birth of a baby gorilla by caesarean section is even more unusual. It wasn't a decision that we took lightly – Kera was becoming quite poorly and we needed to act fast in order to give the best possible treatment to mother and baby, and to avoid the possibility of losing the baby.''

After being assessed by Bristol Zoo's team of in-house vets, expert treatment was provided by David Cahill, Professor in Reproductive Medicine and Medical Education at the University of Bristol's School of Clinical Sciences and gynaecologist in St Michael's Hospital.

Despite having delivered hundreds of babies by caesarean in his career, this was the first time Professor Cahill had delivered a baby gorilla by this procedure. He explained: ''Having been involved with the care of these gorillas over the years, with some trepidation and excitement, we were invited to the Zoo to assess the well-being of Kera, because she was in late pregnancy and showed some signs of being unwell.