Birthday celebrations for Komale, the IVF baby gorilla

A baby gorilla born after fertility treatment celebrated his first birthday with cards and cakes at Bristol Zoo recently.

London, Dec 16 : A baby gorilla born after fertility treatment celebrated his first birthday with cards and cakes at Bristol Zoo recently.

Children brought cards and cakes to celebrate the first birthday of Komale.

However, the cakes had to be hidden away when Komale's family became a little rowdy.

Komale was born after its mother was treated with a fertility drug called Clomifene, in order to boost the endangered species.

Mel Gage, the assistant curator of mammals revealed that the zookeepers are excited over Komale's growth.

"He may be small in stature but he has become such a big personality," the Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

Komale has been living with its parents Jock and Salome on the zoo's Gorilla Island since its birth.

Gage said that they are touched to see Komale giggling away when its father tickles him.

"It is heart-warming to hear Komale in fits of giggles when Jock is tickling him," he added.

The number of Western lowland gorillas in the wild has fallen by 90 per cent in the past 60 years as animals have been shot for bushmeat while deforestation has damaged their environment.

ANI