Keepers at Howletts Wild Animal Park are celebrating the birth of a baby gorilla – part of a critically endangered species.

Mum Sanki is closely protecting the adorable new arrival at the sanctuary on the outskirts of Canterbury.

Lorna Wanless, head of the park’s gorilla section, said: “We can confirm the baby is a female and she has already been seen holding on to her mother’s forearm while Sanki is moving around the enclosure.

“I am sure it will not be long before she is also travelling around on Sanki’s back clinging tightly to her mother’s hair.

“The baby will be dependent on her mother for three or four years.”

The infant gorilla was successfully delivered on April 25 to Sanki and father Djanghou.

Both Howletts and sister park Port Lympne Reserve near Hythe have impressive breeding records with western lowland gorillas.

The latest arrival cements the parks’ reputation as a world leader in breeding the species – bringing the total number of successful births across both parks to a staggering 137.

Neil Spooner, the parks’ animal director, said: “Western lowland gorillas are one of the species that we are best known for and we are justly proud of our breeding programme, which is the best in the world.

“As well as caring for gorillas at our parks we also work closely with The Aspinall Foundation to protect them in the wild, and where possible, to reintroduce gorillas born at the parks back into their natural environment.”

Howletts and Port Lympne, working in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation, are some of the most successful breeders of captive endangered animals in the world.

The conservation charity boasts 137 gorilla births, 33 black rhino, 123 clouded leopards, 33 Javan gibbons, 104 Javan langur and 20 African elephants.

Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild.

Estimates range from 50,000 to 150,000 individuals remaining; however the true figure is very difficult to gauge.

Experts speculated that if the number of western lowland gorilla continues to decline at the present rate the species could be extinct by 2020.

To find out more, visit The Howletts website