(NBC) - The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., welcomed a baby gorilla Sunday -- its first gorilla born at the zoo in nine years.
"Calaya," one of the zoo's western lowland gorillas, gave birth to a baby boy at 6:25 p.m. Sunday.
She has been taking care of her newborn and keepers say they are optimistic he will thrive.
The baby gorilla's name is “Moke,” which means "Junior" or "Little One" in Lingala.
Meredith Bastian, curator of primates at the zoo, said the birth holds special significance to both their zoo family and to the critically endangered species as a whole.
Courtesy NBC News Channel