Female gorilla born at zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating the birth of a female western lowland gorilla — the third offspring of its parents and the 12th successful birth of the endangered species at the zoo.

The gorilla was born about 3:30 a.m. Saturday. It is indoors off public exhibit while it remains under 24-hour observation.

The first 72 hours of a gorilla's life are the most critical, according to Dr. John Ochsenreiter, interim associate veterinarian of animal health.

The new gorilla, which does not yet have a name, seems to be well; her mother, Amanda, is showing "excellent maternal care," according to a news release.

The baby is particularly important because of its genetic diversity, according to the release. Its mother was born in the wild and its father, Vip, has only two other relatives outside of Woodland Park Zoo.

Public viewing of the baby and her mother will be dependent on outdoor temperatures, according to the zoo. A video of the newborn has been made available on the Web at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE4zFSYDDkU.

Brian Alexander: 206-464-2026 or balexander@seattletimes.com