Rare gorilla birth caps baby boom at Danish zoo

Givskud Zoo near Vejle has welcomed a rare gorilla birth, the latest in an unusually high number of new arrivals this year, reports DR.

The infant gorilla was born on Wednesday to Minnie, one of the park’s western lowland gorillas. It is the first gorilla birth in Denmark in six years, as Givskud is the country’s only zoo to house the species.

Director Rasmus Nielsen said gorillas typically give birth only once every four to six years, making each arrival significant. The troop has shown strong interest in the newborn, with even the first-time father inspecting the infant. Staff have not yet determined its sex, as the baby remains close to its mother.

This year’s births also include seven lion cubs across two litters, the first in four years after the previous breeding male died in late 2021. A pygmy hippopotamus calf, the first in 25 years, required intensive care after a difficult start, with keepers supplementing its mother’s milk with cow colostrum from a local farm.

In total, the zoo has recorded at least 32 births since February, including eland antelope, Ouessant sheep, penguins, lemurs, and various antelope species. Nielsen attributed the surge to dedicated animal care, noting that some luck may also have played a role.