The baby, named Mochi, was born at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo on April 15th.

Mochi means Jr.

Or little one in the Lingala language.

His parents are a 15 year old female named Kalia and Baraka, a 26 year old male Zoo.

Workers say this is Kallias first baby.

They say she is a very good mother and often holds mochi close to her body.

The father shows an interest in the baby, as do other gorillas in the room.

Kalia has let them get a close look at young mochi.

Western lowland gorillas are native to central Africa.

Scientists estimate that in the past 20 to 25 years, their population in the wild has fallen by 60% because of disease and unlawful hunting.

It had been nine years since the Western lowland gorilla was born at the National Zoo.