WASHINGTON (AP) -- A gorilla was born Friday to two members of a western lowland gorilla group assembled at the National Zoo five years ago as part of a plan to increase the population of the endangered species.

Mandara, a 9-year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a full-term infant, believed to be a male, in the early hours of the morning. The last gorilla birth at the zoo occurred in 1972.

At this time, mother and newborn are doing well, zoo officials said in a written statement.