The birth of a tiny male gorilla at Taronga Zoo is good news for his embattled species, which is struggling against Ebola and the loss of habitat from illegal mining for a mineral used in mobile phones.
Taronga Zoo director and chief executive Cameron Kerr announced on Friday that the birth of the infant marks the start of a second generation of western lowland gorillas in the zoo's conservation breeding program.
The infant, who was born on Tuesday, has been named Mjukuu, which means "grandchild" or "second generation" in Swahili.
His mother, Mbeli, was also born at Taronga - in 2003.
He is the first baby fathered by Taronga's new silverback, Kibali, who arrived at the zoo in 2012 from France after a global search for a successor to retiring silverback Kibabu.
Kibali was chosen with the assistance of the European Species management program, which identified him as genetically and behaviourally ideal.
A female gorilla, Kipenzi, was born at the zoo in January 2011.
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in mountainous country, forests and lowland swamps in central Africa.
The dramatic decline in their numbers is due to poaching, the pet and bush meat trade, human diseases, habitat loss and illegal mining for a rare mineral called coltan, which is found in mobile phones.
Ebola is also a threat to gorillas which share about 98 per cent of our DNA. The great apes are also susceptible to human colds.
The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has not affected gorillas, which live mainly in Central Africa, but gorillas died from Ebola in 2003 and 2004 in the Congo.
"This birth is vital for Taronga's highly successful western lowland gorilla breeding program," Mr Kerr said.
"Taronga continues to tell many people about the plight of gorillas in the wild and what can be done just by visiting [the zoo] to see this infant.
"Taronga supports gorillas in the wild through the 'They're Calling On You' project to recycle mobile phones to help reduce illegal mining in gorilla habitat and to fund extra wildlife rangers to protect gorillas and other wildlife in Africa.
"Researchers have also warned that the current Ebola outbreak could have devastating effects on gorilla populations.
"In 2003 and 2004, the virus reduced the number of gorillas in the Republic of Congo's Pdzala Kokoua National Park from 380 to less than 40."
"This newborn is the latest contribution to Taronga's story of hope for wildlife," Mr Kerr said.
Mbeli went to Melbourne Zoo in May 2010 as part of the regional zoo management program. She returned to Taronga last year to be part of the next generation of its breeding program.
Senior primate keeper, Lou Grossfelt, said: "Mbeli was born here so it's great to see her back at Taronga and having babies herself where she grew up in a natural gorilla family group.
"She has seen first-hand how to care for an infant."
NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes said: "This is a wonderful achievement for Taronga's role in the international breeding program. It certainly reflects the zoo's dedication and commitment to conservation. This birth is a triumph and testament to the hard work of the keepers."
