Dublin Zoo welcomes baby gorilla into new habitat

Dublin Zoo has officially opened its new gorilla rainforest, and welcomed a new baby gorilla.

President Mary McAleese opened the new rainforest in one of her last public engagements.

The newborn baby female gorilla was born to first-time mum Mayani on Friday, September 16. The baby arrived just days after the gorillas moved to their new habitat.

The gorilla rainforest comprises 12,000 square metres of undulating topography inspired by the lowland rainforest of western Africa, home to western lowland gorillas.

"The largest of the primates, western lowland gorillas favour quiet, tranquil environments. The design of this new habitat was strongly influenced by behavioural studies of gorillas in the wild," Dublin Zoo said today.

"High, rocky outcrops and trees allow the apes an overview of the surrounding landscape, while streams and dense vegetation allow the gorillas to forage and move to private resting spaces."

Dublin Zoo has maintained western lowland gorillas is home to a breeding group of seven gorillas, the most recent additions being Kituba, a baby boy who was born earlier this year and Mayani’s newborn.

It is envisaged that the troop will grow in size to between 12 – 15 gorillas over the coming years.