In a heartwarming tale of medical marvel and maternal instinct, the Fort Worth Zoo recently welcomed a tiny new member to their family under extraordinary circumstances.
Meet Jameela, a baby gorilla whose entrance into the world was anything but ordinary.
Here birth marked a historic moment for the zoo with a delivery that’s one for the books.
Jameela’s story begins with Sekani, a 33-year-old gorilla known for her exemplary mothering skills.
Having raised all her babies without a hitch, expectations were high for her latest pregnancy.
However, early signs of trouble appeared when Sekani started showing unusual symptoms, leading the zoo’s medical team to a diagnosis that turned their optimism into concern.
View this post on Instagram
“She started holding her head and that can be a sign of a headache in a gorilla,” explained Associate Veterinarian Sarah Cannizzo, highlighting the initial clues that something was amiss.
The situation grew more alarming when Sekani began trembling, a distressing indication of pain, accompanied by bloodwork results that pointed to elevated protein levels.
Veterinarians were faced with a dire situation.
The diagnosis was preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition that left the team with no choice but to opt for an emergency cesarean section.
But there was a catch: performing a C-section on a primate was uncharted territory for Cannizzo.
Enter Jamie Erwin, a board-certified OBGYN with years of experience in human deliveries but none in the animal kingdom.
“Definitely a first for me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime I’m guessing,” said Erwin, reflecting on the unique challenge ahead.
The clock was ticking, and within two days, a volunteer medical team of human and animal health experts was assembled, ready to undertake a procedure that would bridge the worlds of human and veterinary medicine.
As Sekani was gently put under anesthesia, the team embarked on a surgery that, to their amazement, mirrored human C-sections in almost every way.
“What was beautiful is that Sakani’s anatomy is exactly the same as my human patients. Very few differences,” Erwin marveled.
The moment of truth came when Jameela was delivered, a month premature but fighting strong.
The collective breath held by the team was released in a sigh of relief as the neonatologist and zoo staff worked together to ensure the tiny gorilla’s lungs were robust enough for her new world.
This groundbreaking procedure not only saved Jameela’s life but also underscored the critical importance of every birth within the endangered gorilla population.
“It’s a huge responsibility. They are critically endangered in the wild, so every birth matters. Every birth counts,” Cannizzo emphasized.
In the days following the surgery, the zoo faced the challenge of fostering a maternal bond without the natural hormones triggered by traditional birth.
Plans are underway to introduce a surrogate gorilla mom, ensuring Jameela grows up with the care and socialization she needs.
Meanwhile, Jameela, whose name means “beautiful” in Swahili, serves as a living testament to the miracles that can happen when human ingenuity and compassion come together for the sake of another species.
Learn more about Jameela’s grand entrance into the world din the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
