Baby gorilla with mom at San Diego Zoo

Baby gorilla with mom at San Diego Zoo
In this photo taken on Monday, March 24, 2014, and provided by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a 12-day old baby gorilla is physically introduced to her mother, Imani, for the first time at the San Diego Zoo. The zoo says the infant female gorilla was successfully treated for pneumonia after a cesarean section delivery on March 12. (AP Photo/San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Matt Gelvin) MANDATORY CREDIT

The San Diego Zoo says an infant gorilla that was successfully treated for pneumonia after a cesarean section delivery is in her mother's arms for the first time.

Zoo officials say the 12-day-old female was physically introduced to her mother, Imani, for the first time Monday morning. Since then the 18-year-old Imani has been constantly cradling and carrying her baby.

The new mom began nursing 3 hours after meeting the baby. Zoo staff will monitor the baby to make sure that the newborn gorilla receives enough nutrition.

Nadine Lamberski, associate director of veterinary services at the park, said last week the unnamed gorilla is developing quickly and normally after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung.

Baby gorilla with mom at San Diego Zoo
In a Wednesday, March 19, 2014 photo provided by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 8-day-old gorilla at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is bottle-fed at the zoo in San Diego. This baby gorilla delivered by a rare emergency cesarean section last week at the San Diego Zoo had contracted pneumonia and is receiving round-the-clock care. Zoo officials say the young gorilla sleeps a lot but is getting stronger day by day and vets are cautiously optimistic about her condition.(AP Photo/San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Tammy Spratt)

The gorilla was delivered March 12 at the zoo's Safari Park.

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