**Embargoed until 00.01am Tuesday, February 23rd 2016 **
The medical team at Bristol Zoo perform an emergency caesarean procedure on their Western lowland gorilla Kera. See SWNS story SWGORILLA; A baby Western lowland gorilla has been born at Bristol Zoo Gardens after an emergency caesarean procedure. The 11 day old infant, a girl, was delivered after the mother, Kera, showed symptoms of potentially life-threatening pre-eclampsia. The baby is yet to be named and was born weighing just over a kilo (2lbs 10oz). She needed help from vets before she was able to breathe independently, but is now doing well, being hand-reared round the clock by a small team of experienced gorilla keepers. Kera is recovering and is being monitored closely by keepers and the Zoos in-house veterinary team. It is the first time a gorilla has been born by caesarean at Bristol Zoo, and one of only a handful of instances of it occurring worldwide. It is still very early days and the baby is not yet on show to the public.
