Sedgwick County Zoo welcomes another baby gorilla

It’s another baby gorilla!

A Western lowland gorilla was born on Wednesday at the Sedgwick County Zoo and is the first-born for gorillas Kigali, 22, and Matt, 23. The baby was born Wednesday shortly before 6 a.m.

The baby – it’s too soon to announce whether it is a girl or boy – has been observed nursing, clinging to its mom and looking strong.

For now, the new gorilla family is not on display to zoo visitors.

This marks the second gorilla born at the Sedgwick County Zoo and the second time Matt has been a father. Last August, a Western lowland gorilla was born at the zoo with Barika, 15, and Matt.

The Western lowland gorilla is found in the tropical forest of western Africa, from southern Nigeria to the Congo River.

In 2007, Western lowland gorillas – the only species seen in zoos – were declared critically endangered by the World Conservation Union.

In the wild, gorillas live in groups of three or four females with one male. An adult male lowland gorilla can weigh 330 pounds, the female 220. A gorilla can be up to 6 feet tall when standing.

The zoo’s Downing Gorilla Forest exhibit now has six males, four females and one baby gorilla whose sex is yet to be determined.

This story was originally published February 22, 2017 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Sedgwick County Zoo welcomes another baby gorilla."