Zookeepers have welcomed a baby gorilla to their animal family at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, in Kent.
The tiny crinkled black face of the baby western lowland is not only incredibly cute, but his birth has also helped boost the number of a critically endangered species.
The baby was born to mother, Mumba, and father, Djala, during the early hours of 26 February. His father was brought into the sanctuary when he was just a baby himself, suffering signs of trauma in the Congo after his family was slaughtered by poachers.
At this early stage the baby gorilla nuzzling in his mothers arms is too young to determine its sex, which will only become apparent when the primate is a few months old.
Baby gorilla nestled in Mumba's arms
Since arriving in the UK in 1986, Djala, who became head of the family group at Port Lympne in 2000, has fathered 15 babies. It is Mumba's third birth.
Phil Ridges, head gorilla keeper at Port Lympne, said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome this new arrival to our family group.
"Mumba and Djala are fantastic parents, very protective and caring and the little one is doing very well.
"Infants are vital to the survival of this critically endangered species and I always look forward to watching them grow and develop."
The baby gorilla sleeping in mother's protective grasp
The Aspinall Foundation has several conservation projects around the world - the flagship project being in Congo and Gabon, where it protects and manages one million acres of land known as the Bateke Plateau, which spans both countries.
Mr Ridges said: "Our flagship project, spanning Congo and Gabon, reintroduces both gorillas from Port Lympne and Howletts, along with orphan gorillas from the bushmeat trade in Africa, back into protected areas in the wild.
"The Aspinall Foundation has reintroduced 54 gorillas to date and there have been 21 births - a testament to the success of the scheme."
For information about the conservation work carried out by The Aspinall Foundation, visit www.aspinallfoundation.org.