The gorilla born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park last week left a veterinary hospital for the first time on Friday and was shown to the gorilla troop's other members -- including her mother.
The unnamed female gorilla was born March 12 via cesarean section and initially showed complications believed to be related to the difficult labor. She received oxygen and supplemental fluids and later underwent treatment for a collapsed lung and pneumonia.
"Veterinary staff felt confident in the baby's health to release her from the hospital,'' senior keeper Matt Gelvin said. "This morning we brought her back to the house where she's started visual introductions to the troop. Everyone is very excited to see the baby, very curious.''
The gorillas were able to view the baby, who's being kept in a bedroom area, through a protective barrier, park officials said.
The visual introduction between the baby gorilla and the park's seven other gorillas the is the first of many steps toward letting her mingle with the troop, officials said.
The baby is the 17th gorilla born at the Safari Park, and the first to 18-year-old Imani.
