Howletts is celebrating a double boost in its fight to protect endangered gorillas.

The Bekesbourne wild animal park has just revealed these new arrivals - both Western lowland gorillas born within a month of each other.

The first happy parents were dad Djanghou and mum Sanki, who gave birth to Jouki, a male, at the end of January.

Next to arrive, almost a month later, was Bou - who keepers think is a male - born to mum Jubi and father Kouillou.

Howletts head gorilla keeper Lorna Wanless said: "Gorillas sadly face a very real threat of extinction in the wild so we are delighted by these most recent arrivals.

"They are the 128th and 129th gorillas born at our parks since our first birth in 1975. Infants like these are vital to the survival of this critically endangered species and we look forward to watching them grow up."

The achievement is even greater as gorillas are renowned for breeding slowly: females first breed when they are about 10 years old and give birth to a single infant every four to five years.

Newborn gorillas are very small, weighing about 4-5lbs (2kg), and are dependent on their mothers much like a human child.

Gorillas learn by example and must learn from their group how to find food, socialise, make nests, and raise young.

The western lowland gorilla is critically endangered in the wild. Estimates range from 50,000 to 150,000 individuals remaining, but the true figure is very difficult to gauge.

If the number of Western lowland gorillas continues to decline at the present rate the species may be extinct in the wild by 2020.

The park has recently launched the Howletts Passport, a new one-day ticket that allows visitors to come back for a whole year for free.

Visitors can enjoy the park for 12 months for the price of just one standard entry ticket and this will provide the perfect opportunity to see these latest arrivals grow up.

To find out more about gorilla conservation, the Howletts Passport or to adopt a gorilla from as little as £3 per month please go to The Aspinall Foundation's website.