Tamba the gorilla has successfully given birth to her sixth infant, Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve has revealed today.

The Aspinall Foundation, which runs Port Lympne and Howlett's, has now birthed 140 west lowland gorillas, making it the best conservator of the species globally.

Simon Jeffery, Animal Director, added: "Western lowland gorillas are one of the species that we are best known for and we are justly proud of our breeding programme.

"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, reintroduce gorillas born at the parks back into their natural environment."

Gorilla numbers have been decimated by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years but this infant is the 17th gorilla to be sired by silverback, Kouillou.

Baby gorillas are born helpless and will initially be carried, close to their mother’s body, for several months, until they are old enough to be carried on their mother’s back.

A critically endangered species, males can grow to 6ft tall and weigh 220 kilograms.

The life expectancy of a western lowland gorilla in the wild can be up to 40 years but can extend to 60 in captivity.