A baby siamang, a type of endangered ape, was born Friday at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, surprising keepers with the arrival.
The baby was born to mother Malana and father Bali, and is the fourth siamang to be born at the zoo. Keepers arrived Friday morning to find the baby clinging to Malana, the zoo announced.
Keepers had suspected Malana was pregnant, but were not able to confirm without invasive testing. The baby’s gender has not yet been confirmed.
Malana is an experienced mom, having given birth five times. Prior to the new arrival, she most recently gave birth to Lovejoy in June 2022. The siamang family at the zoo consists of Malana, 35; Bali, 20; Lovejoy and the unnamed infant.