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In an extremely rare case, doctors had to intervene in a pregnancy involving an 18-year-old gorilla. After the gorilla, Imani went into labor Wednesday morning and did not show any signs of progress, the veterinary staff at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, took matters into their own hands and rushed her to the Safari Park's veterinary hospital where a team of medical professionals performed an emergency Cesarean section.

Since the zoo's veterinary staff rarely has to perform C-sections in animals, the San Diego Zoo Global team sought out a veterinary surgeon and a human neonatal specialist from the University of California San Diego Medical Center.

"In retrospect the C-section was the right decision," said the park's Associate Director of Veterinary Services Nadine Lamberski reported by NBC San Diego. "We think the health of the fetus would have been compromised if we delayed the surgery any longer."

The baby female gorilla was born at 6:30 pm and weighed in at 4.6 pounds. Due to complications from labor, the gorilla baby needs to stay in the intensive care unit where she is receiving oxygen and extra fluids. The first-time mother is also at the veterinary hospital recovering form her procedure. She is staying in the gorilla bedroom area.

The baby gorilla is the 17th gorilla to be born at the zoo. She will become the eighth gorilla living in the zoo.