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Operative Vaginal Birth of a Critically Endangered Gorilla With Forceps Assistance
Brent Monseur1, Rebekah McCurdy, Donna Ialeggio
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, the Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Veterinary obstetricians successfully managed a gorilla birth complication, delivering a healthy infant via forceps. This case highlights potential improvements for gorilla reproductive health through advanced obstetric interventions.
Area of Science:
- Primate reproductive health
- Comparative obstetrics
- Veterinary medicine
Background:
- An 18-year-old primiparous gorilla experienced protracted labor with a term singleton fetus.
- An arrest of descent was diagnosed by the attending obstetrician.
Observation:
- The gorilla fetus was viable.
- Operative vaginal birth with forceps assistance was performed.
Findings:
- A healthy 2,280 g male neonate was delivered.
- No major complications occurred during the delivery.
Implications:
- Applying human obstetric management principles could reduce high maternal mortality and stillbirth rates in gorillas.
- Multidisciplinary approaches in veterinary obstetrics may improve great ape reproductive outcomes.
