Warning: This Newborn Baby Gorilla Might Melt Your Heart

It's mom Kokomo's first baby - Winston - at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since transferring from the Oklahoma City Zoo on breeding loan.

Transcript

00:00We just had a gorilla baby born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

00:06The baby and mom are doing great and the mom Kokomo and her baby are on exhibit at the park right now.

00:14Kokomo came to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on breeding loan.

00:18She actually had four other babies at the Oklahoma City Zoo, but this is her first baby here with Winston.

00:24These are western lowland gorillas and all gorillas are endangered, so it makes us doubly excited about this birth.

00:31Right now you can see the baby nursing from the mom and you can see the mom taking good care of the baby.

00:38Cuddling it and patting it and switching the baby from side to side.

00:43At this point, gorilla babies are very dependent on their moms.

00:47They have to be supported 24-7, so the mom is really busy.

00:52Gorilla babies nurse for up to three years, longer if their mom takes longer to wean them.

00:58So they are infants for a full three years.

01:01So Winston and all the rest of the females in the troop are all out there with mom and baby.

01:07They're interested in the baby. Babies are always attractive.

01:10And so they're checking in on mom and the baby, but everything's going just fine.

01:16So this is the first gorilla baby we've had born at the park since 2000.

01:22So come on out and see them. They're all on exhibit.

01:25We're out here at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

01:37And today we're pleased to announce that the new baby gorilla has been named Monroe.

01:42In honor of Dr. Lee Monroe, President Emeritus of San Diego Zoo Global.

01:47Well, Kokomo and her little boy, Monroe, who's almost three weeks old, are doing just great.

01:59He's at the point now where he's starting to look around and wave his arms and open his eyes.

02:05He's seeing past mom now a little bit.

02:07And she's getting more comfortable with him and she's setting him down a little bit.

02:12She doesn't let go of them, of course, but they're doing just great.

02:17Well, Winston is being the very protective male as he should be.

02:20But of course, food trumps all.

02:22So if he sees a snack that he'd rather have than the girls, he'll take it from them.

02:27Hello, Winston.

02:33Oh, you're getting hurt.

02:37Being the good mother that she is, Kokomo is very cautious.

02:40And she does spend some time by herself.

02:45The best time to see a Kokomo and her baby is probably about 9 o'clock in the morning

02:49when the park first opens and it's still cool.

02:51And then throughout the day, she'll be in and out of view.