It's a boy!

The Gulf Breeze Zoo welcomed a 5 pound male baby gorilla on Jan. 23, said Zoo Director Kayte Wanko.

The mother, Rwanda, a 26-year-old Western Lowland Gorilla, is back on display on the island of the Zoo following the birth of the infant, which was done by cesarean section.

When zoo officials discovered Rwanda was pregnant, they began consulting with other zoos nationwide, as well as veterinarians and obstetricians to best prepare the staff for the impending birth.

“A team of zoo staff members began 24 hour observations on the gorilla five weeks prior to the birth and were thrilled Sunday night when she began to show signs of labor,” according to a press release from the Zoo.

Gorilla labor cycle is typically shorter than that of humans, said Wanko. When Rwanda’s labor did not progress sufficiently, zoo officials made the decision to deliver the newborn via cesarean section.

For more on this story, see the Feb. 2 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.