Mother chimp meets newborn just 14 hours after C-section

By Ottilie Von Henning

This is the heartwarming moment a mother met her baby chimp for the first time just 14 hours after she gave birth via a planned C-section.

Mahale, 30, celebrated the birth of her fourth offspring on Tuesday (April 8) at the Sedgwick County Zoo (SCZ) in Wichita, Kansas, via cesarean section.

The chimp gave birth to a little girl who has been named Kyansa after a peak in the Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

Sedgwick County Zoo has said: "Positive signs of bonding have been immediately visible 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."

Two years ago, Mahale underwent an emergency C-section with her son Kucheza, who unfortunately died from an accidental injury at just five weeks old.

Because she had previously delivered via C-section, doctors recommended another - this time planned - to reduce potential risks.

The Sedgwick County Zoo said: "Another surgical delivery was prescribed in order to reduce the risks sometimes associated with natural births after C-sections.

"Once again, Drs. Laura Whisler and Janna Chibry of College Hill OB-GYN in Wichita, Kansas, performed the cesarean section alongside the Zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams.

"Mahale spent the night recovering from anesthesia and was able to be reunited with baby the following morning, just 14 hours after delivery."