A critically endangered female western lowland gorilla was born on Wednesday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and her name is Grace.
Disney officials say her birth was an important step in sustaining the species, which has been in decline due to hunting and habitat loss. Grace’s parents, mother Kashata and father Gino, were selected to breed as part of the Species Survival Plan overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Grace is named after the GRACE gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is dedicated to helping gorillas orphaned by poaching, Disney officials say.
Walt Disney World Resort guests can see Grace and her family on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.