Fifteen years after he captivated the public as a newborn, Yakini, Melbourne’s cherished gorilla, has fully grown into his role as the dominant silverback at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
His journey from a critical start to his current strength and maturity is a testament to the exceptional care he received.
Yakini’s arrival was far from easy. Born by cesarean section without a heartbeat, he was saved through the combined efforts of medical teams from the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
“It was touch and go there for a while,” recalled Ulli Weiher, Melbourne Zoo’s senior primate keeper who hand-raised Yakini.
During his early months, Yakini was bottle-fed and learned essential gorilla behaviors from Ms. Weiher, who even crawled on the ground to teach him how to climb onto his mother’s back.
Today, Yakini is a robust 170kg silverback but retains his mother’s gentle temperament.
Yakini moved to Werribee Zoo in 2011, where he joined his father, Motaba, and brother, Ganyeka.
Over the years, Yakini naturally stepped into the leadership role, a process that Werribee keeper Kat Thompson described as “a battle of wills rather than a battle of brawn,” marked by subtle, respectful challenges to his father.
Now, as the group’s leader, Yakini enjoys the privileges of his position, choosing his favorite food first and settling in his preferred spots.
For Ms. Weiher and the zoo staff, watching Yakini’s journey has been rewarding. “It’s a joy to see the hard work paid off,” she said, reflecting on his growth from a vulnerable newborn to a respected leader.
