Disney’s Animal Kingdom‘s gorilla population grew by one yesterday with the birth of a baby western lowland gorilla. It’s a girl! And they’ve named her Grace!

Baby and mom are bonding onstage at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail with the rest of their family.

The team of Disney animal care experts named the baby Grace after the GRACE gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is dedicated to helping gorillas orphaned by poaching. Animal care experts from Disney’s Animal Kingdom have spent more than 10 years helping the GRACE team and local community rehabilitate orphan gorillas and protect the species in the wild.

A fun moment was when Grace’s gender was revealed to guests through a special enrichment tactic.

Kashata and the Grace’s father, Gino, were chosen to breed through the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The program is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and ensures responsible breeding of critically endangered species, such as western lowland gorillas, so they will have healthy, genetically diverse populations for years to come.

Watch the video of the gender reveal here!

You can join in the celebration of Grace’s arrival by visiting Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail to try catch a glimpse of Kashata and Grace. Exclusive photo opportunities are also available, as well as a specialty cupcake, available for purchase at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

Will you be visiting Animal Kingdom soon? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to tag us @allears.net in any photos of Grace!

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