New baby gorilla at Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo is proud to announce its latest edition a female Western Lowland gorilla. Keeper Teresa Wawrzynczyk has been waiting patiently for the new arrival and on the morning of 3rd May 2007, gorgeous little "Ndoki" was born. This is the second baby for mother Ozala and Ndoki is a second generation mother reared baby at Twycross Zoo.

Ndoki is enjoying cuddles and suckles from her mother on demand. Unfortunately, eighteen year old father Ti died of a stroke three months ago but within the group there is her aunty and her four year old brother to keep her company.

Western Lowland Gorillas have broad shoulders, muscular necks and very strong hands and feet. An adult male can measure up to six feet in height and weigh approximately 190 kg.

Males are reputed to have the strength of up to eight men. Females are slightly smaller. One can distinguish between the sexes as once a male reaches sexual maturity, he develops silver hair on his back and down his thighs, which is why male gorillas are known as "silverbacks"

Female gorillas reach sexual maturity at about eight years old; males mature much later. Females have a monthly oestrous cycle and so can reproduce at any time of the year. They have a gestation period of approximately nine months. The babies are born helpless and are totally dependent on their mothers until about four years old. A female gorilla is likely to give birth to between three and six babies during her lifetime.

Gorillas live in secure family groups. Groups will consist of one silverback, his females and their offspring.

In the wild, groups could range from five to thirty individuals. The silverback male dictates the movements of the group and decides when and where they eat and sleep. Males are allowed to stay in the family group until they reach sexual maturity. They then leave to be solitary or form their own group.

Western Lowland gorillas are vegetarians. Whilst the majority of their diet is made up of leaves, fruit and stems, they also may eat some insects. An adult male can eat up to 3 kg of food a day.

The gorilla only has two predators; leopards, which sometimes take juveniles and man. This is an extremely important birth in the captive breeding population as there are only between two to ten babies born each year in Europe. The challenges to gorillas in the wild are habitat loss, poaching and the bush meat trade (the mother is killed for meat and the baby has a value as a pet). It is also believed that some gorilla body parts form medicines.