Lifestyle Pets Florida Zoo Welcomes 'Critically Endangered' Baby Gorilla: 'We Have Many Reasons to Celebrate' The new addition is the first western lowland gorilla to be born at Florida's Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens since 2018 By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Instagram Twitter Nicholas Rice is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. When not working, Nicholas can be found playing with his 5 dogs, listening to pop music or eating mozzarella sticks. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 14, 2021 02:20 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Lynde Nunn The animal family at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has expanded by one! Early Friday morning, western lowland gorilla Madini gave birth to a male baby at the Florida zoo, marking the fifth gorilla birth at the facility, per a zoo press release. The Jacksonville Zoo hasn't welcomed a new gorilla baby since 2018. The newborn primate is the third viable offspring for his 44-year-old dad Lash and the second for 24-year-old Madini. Patty, Madini's daughter, still resides at the zoo and will turn 6 years old next month. Adorable Asian Otter Pups Make Their Debut at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida John Reed According to the zoo, the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) — a group of zoo professionals who help keep a genetically diverse gorilla population at zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) — matched Madini and Lash as a breeding pair. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The yet-to-be-named baby gorilla is now the ninth member of the largest gorilla group in the Jacksonville Zoo's history. "We have many reasons to celebrate this new infant," Tracy Fenn, assistant curator of mammals at the zoo, said in a statement. "He will further enrich the social environment and experience of his amazing group and strengthen the sustainability of the Gorilla SSP." RELATED VIDEO: Gorilla Tends to Injured Bird Western lowland gorillas are the most common gorilla subspecies living in the forests and swamplands of central Africa, according to the Jacksonville Zoo. However, they are still "critically endangered" due to various factors, including "deforestation, poaching, and introduced diseases."