Human drug helps gorilla give birth

A western lowland gorilla has given birth at a zoo in southwest England after being given a fertility drug that is normally used on humans, zoo officials said Friday.

The baby gorilla was born at Bristol Zoo Gardens on Dec. 15, said Bryan Carroll, the zoo’s deputy director. The newborn, which has not been named, has started suckling and is doing well, said Mel Gage, the zoo’s senior primate expert.

Its gender has yet to be determined. It is the second baby for the 30-year-old mother, Salome, who first gave birth almost 20 years ago.

Veterinarians had diagnosed Salome with a diminished ovarian reserve, meaning she was not producing ova. She was given a fertility drug called clomifene to stimulate ovulation.