Mumba the gorilla cradles her baby - the latest edition to the endangered species at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Folkstone, Kent

Cradling her baby in her huge arms, Mumba the gorilla welcomes a new edition to her endangered species.

The infant - pictured here at five days old - was born at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Folkestone, Kent.

And just days earlier, another baby gorilla was born at the nearby sister park, Howletts near Canterbury.

The arrivals bring fresh hope as there are just 100,000 Western lowland gorillas remaining in the wild - and it is feared they will be extinct by 2020 if the species keeps dwlinding at its present rate.

Western Lowlands have been hit by deforestation, the Ebola virus and the bush meat trade which sees them widely eaten in Central Africa.

Mumba, 22, is playing her part in the survival of her species, after giving birth on April 25.
The gender of the baby is not known as park keepers do not yet think it is safe enough to enter Mumba's enclosure.