The newest addition to the Toronto Zoo’s gorilla family entered the world Thursday morning.

Ngozi, a 20-year-old female Western lowland gorilla, gave birth to the baby early Thursday, and the zoo said both mom and baby are doing well. The baby’s father is Charles, a 46-year-old silverback male. The newborn’s sex hasn’t been determined, the zoo says, as it has been staying close to mom.

“We are very excited with this birth,” said Maria Franke, curator of mammals at the Toronto Zoo. “Gorillas are under extreme threats in the wild including poaching, disease and habitat loss.”

“It is predicted that the wild population will have an 80 per cent reduction over three generations and it is essential that we educate the public and do everything we can to save this critically endangered species,” Franke said.

The baby is Ngozi’s third, and the 11th to be fathered by Charles and born at the Toronto Zoo.

Ngozi is also mother to Nassir, 9, and Nneka, 4. The newborn will join four other young gorillas, and three adults. Ngozi is originally a Seattleite, and was brought to Toronto in March 2009 to breed with Charles.

Ngozi and her baby can be spotted at the African Rainforest Pavillion, zoo officials say.

The baby’s name is expected to be revealed at a later date.