Vic: It s a girl!

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2000
Vic: It s a girl!

Melbourne Zoo's latest celebrity, a newborn gorilla, is a girl.

After coming into the world at 6.10am (AEST) yesterday, zookeepers left first-time
mum JULIA and her baby alone to bond and were not immediately able to determine the newborn's
sex.

But zoo spokeswoman JUDITH HENKE says the keepers got a good enough look today to confidently
say it is a girl.

A competition will be organised to name her.

Keeper in charge ULLI WEIHER says JULIA was at first restless and uncomfortable in
her new role but is getting better at being a mum as the hours pass.

The father, 16-year-old MOTABA, remain indoors in an adjacent den where he can see
and hear his latest offspring.

Ms WEIHER says MOTABA is in quite a happy mood, seeing what was going on, and all
the other group members keep coming up to the window of the night den to look in to see
the baby.

AAP RTV lmw/jd/wz/jn

KEYWORD: GORILLA (MELBOURNE)

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