A premature baby gorilla rejected at birth is being cared for by keepers who are wearing a 'gorilla suit' to mimic mum's fur.

Pregnant gorilla mum Sekani had to have a rare emergency c-section performed by maternity doctors after she went into labour five weeks early.

Zookeepers at Fort Worth Zoo, Texas, called in a team of gynecologists who delivered baby Jameela.

Following the birth, Sekani struggled to bond and care for the female newborn, which is being given round the clock care by zookeepers.

And so it can learn how to grip on to a future-surrogate mum, keepers are wearing a gorilla suit - covered in fur like strands.

It also limits human-animal contact so Jameela will be more able to bond with future surrogate mum - currently in training -

another female gorilla, Gracie.

A spokesperson for the zoo said: "The gorilla-like jacket is used in part to limit human-animal contact, but mainly so that Jameela can get used to holding on to 'fur' while moving around. "

"Baby gorillas depend on their mothers for locomotion for the first year or two of their lives – so we’re working with Jameela to develop her muscles and tone by allowing her to hold onto this gorilla-like jacket, rather than holding her as we would a human infant."

The birth on January 5 was the third gorilla birth in the zoo’s 115-year history but the first gorilla to be born via cesarean section.

Dr Jamie Walker Erwin led the surgery with neonatologist Dr Robert Ursprung and Dr Dennis Occkiogrosso - all more used to human patients than animal ones.

The baby was named Jameela - in part after Jamie.