Tennessee Zoo Celebrates Birth of Baby Gorilla, First of Its Kind to Be Born There in Almost a Decade

A zoo in Tennessee just welcomed a new baby gorilla — and it is the first of its kind to be born there in nearly a decade.

Zoo Knoxville announced the news in an Instagram post on Thursday, Nov. 20, sharing that the new addition was born to a 27-year-old mom named Kumi.

“KUMI’S BABY IS HERE! 🦍 💛,” the zoo wrote in its caption alongside an adorable video of Kumi with her new baby.

The zoo said the animal is “a healthy Western lowland gorilla” that was born on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at about 8:15 a.m. local time.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“This is Kumi’s first offspring with silverback Bantu and her first birth since joining Zoo Knoxville in 2024,” the zoo continued.

The animal establishment added, “Both Kumi and her newborn are doing well.”

In a statement, Zoo President & CEO Bill Street said, “Each gorilla birth brings new hope for the future of this critically endangered species.”

This new arrival is an important step forward for Western lowland gorillas,” he continued.

This is the first gorilla born at the zoo since 2016, according to News 6.

“Kumi has been calm, attentive and doing everything exactly as a new mom should,” a spokesperson for the zoo told the outlet.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

In a follow-up Instagram post on Friday, Nov. 21, the zoo shared more photos and provided an update on Kumi and her newborn.

“We can’t stop staring at this little face,” Zoo Knoxville’s caption began.

“Kumi’s new baby has had an exciting first few days, being gently introduced to the rest of the troop. Zoo staff are remaining hands-off, allowing Kumi to naturally bond with and care for her newborn,” the post continued.

The zoo concluded the caption with an explanation that “gorillas face many challenges in the wild, which is why their species is critically endangered. By maintaining a healthy, biodiverse population in accredited zoos, we help protect and strengthen the future of Western lowland gorillas.”

The exact number of Western lowland gorillas remaining in the wild is not entirely known, as they inhabit densely populated jungle areas, mainly in Africa, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

However, it is believed that the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years due to “poaching and disease.”

Scientists estimate that it would take about 75 years for the Western lowland gorillas’ numbers to recover, even if “all threats” to their population were removed, per the WWF.