A gorilla at Zoo Atlanta has given birth to twins which marks only the sixth time it's occurred in a North American zoo since 1966.

Zoo officials say Kuchi, a 21-year-old female western lowland gorilla, became a proud mother to twins on Monday. The proud Papa is Taz, whose lineage continues with the newest silverback offspring of Zoo Atlanta.

Dennis Kelly, Zoo Atlanta president and CEO, says in a news release, "The Zoo Atlanta family is elated at the news of twin gorilla babies. We are proud to do our part to support a species that is experiencing such catastrophic decline in the wild."

There are about 350 western lowland gorillas in captivity in North America. Experts speculate less than 75,000 survive in the wild, due in partly because their habitat is being destroyed by logging and farming and the harvesting of their meat called "bushmeat".

Dr. Tara Stoinksi, manager of conservation partnerships at the zoo says, "Kuchi is a proven mother; however, the next 48 hours will be crucial to the twins' survival."