WATCH: Baby Gorilla Born At Philadelphia Zoo

PHILADELPHIA – The staff at the Philadelphia Zoo and two new gorilla parents have cause to celebrate, as a new baby gorilla was born Friday, June 2. But the birth was nothing simple, as a specialized team of doctors and veterinarians worked to deliver the new baby after mother Kira was in labor for more than 24 hours.

Kira, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, went into labor Thursday June 1 and was in labor for so long that the zoo assembled a team of doctors, including obstetrician/gynecologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and more, to perform the emergency delivery.

The zoo said in its announcement that neither Kira or the baby boy would not have survived were it not for the team of medical experts, something that surely made the father, 32-year-old silverback Motuba, very happy.

You can watch a video from the zoo detailing the birth and how the new family is doing below:

The new arrival doesn't have a name yet, and the zoo said it plans to partner with Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center to choose a name for the new gorilla.

The expert team included the following, according to the zoo:

• Rebekah McCurdy, MDOB-GYN, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

• Sean Harbison, MD FACS, Surgeon, Penn Medicine/Presbyterian

• Reilly Hobbs, MD, Chief Surgical Resident, Penn Medicine

• Ludovica Chiavaccini, DVM MSCS, DACVAA, Anesthesiologist, Penn Vet

• Ciara Barr, VMDAnesthesia Resident, Penn Vet

• Keisha Dodman MD, Anesthesia Resident, Penn Medicine

Image via Kevin Burkett