A British zoo has welcomed its first baby chimpanzee in 17 years.
Workers were thrilled to find that female chimpanzee Kora had given birth to a healthy baby overnight.
The newborn marks a major milestone for Colchester Zoo, which has not seen a chimpanzee birth since Talia was born in March 2009.
READ MORE: Gigantic 6ft 2 pooch weighs whopping 11 stone and is mistaken for a horse…but thinks he’s a lap dog
- Advertisement -
Keepers say both mother and baby are doing well, with proud father Napoleon also staying close by.
The baby was born on 17 Jan, as reported by What’s the Jam.
Kora, who was born at the zoo in November 1999 to mum Billy-Joe, is a first-time mother.
Napoleon only arrived at the zoo less than a year ago, having been transferred from Bioparc Fuengirola in Spain in April.
Chimpanzees are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, facing serious threats in the wild including habitat loss caused by deforestation and hunting for bushmeat.
- Advertisement -
Zoo officials say the birth is an important step for conservation efforts and highlights the role modern zoos play in protecting vulnerable species.
READ MORE: Adorable dogs with same rare eye condition have become inseparable
