Doctors Perform Rare Cesarean Section to Save Baby Gorilla and Her Mom

Cesarean sections are common for humans. For gorillas, a C-section is extremely rare, complicated and potentially dangerous to both the baby and mother.

For the Bristol Zoo's veterinarians who had diagnosed a pregnant gorilla named Kera with preeclampsia, this C-section birth gave both the mother and baby the best chance of surviving.

Since they weren't familiar with Cesarean section births, the zoo's staff called in a doctor who is an experienced expert in C-Sections, but only on humans. While gorillas and humans have similar anatomy, a gorilla C-section is much more complicated and risky.

Following a three hour operation and some tense moments, the zoo reports both the baby and mom are doing well.

[YouTube][NPR]