Sedgwick County Zoo officials have announced the birth of a baby girl chimpanzee. The baby was delivered by a planned C-section performed on the mother, Mahale.
This is the fourth offspring for Mahale, who is 30 years of age. Two years ago, she gave birth by emergency C-section to a male chimpanzee, named Kucheza. The baby died from an accidental injury at just five weeks of age.
After a healthy pregnancy, Mahale delivered a baby girl, who was named Kyansa (key-AHN-sah), after a peak in the Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.
Zoo officials said Mahale spent the night recovering from anesthesia and was able to be reunited with baby the following morning – just 14 hours after delivery. Positive signs of bonding were reported through constant observation by their caretakers. The pair will remain behind the scenes to allow time for Mahale to heal from surgery and for mom and baby to develop their bond.
