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Hand-reared Howletts Wild Animal Park gorilla fighting fit months after mother's rejection

15:26, 27 February 2020

updated: 16:28, 27 February 2020

A baby gorilla rejected by her mother at birth is now going strong after being successfully hand-reared.

Yaounde was born back in June at Canterbury's Howletts Wild Animal Park weighing just 1kg.

Yaounde was underweight and rejected at birth
Yaounde was underweight and rejected at birth
She is now fit and healthy
She is now fit and healthy

But after being neglected by her mother, she faced a tough start to life.

Keepers stepped in to give the youngster the best possible shot at life and became her foster parents.

Attached to them 24/7, Yaounde began to grow healthily and now weighs in at 5.19kg.

A Facebook post on the Aspinall Foundation page reads: "We are proud to have a team of extremely dedicated keepers.

"Because of them, Yaounde is fighting fit and slowly and carefully being introduced to the group with the hope she will be welcomed in to the family."

The Aspinall Foundation is this year's KentOnline charity of the year.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

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