Baby gorilla who beat the odds puts on an adorable show

Two-year-old gorilla Kaius should have died on multiple occasions in his short life, yet every time he pulled through. Now, he’s back where he belongs.

Kaius pictured at Mogo Zoo. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Two-year-old Kaius may make dancing around Mogo Wildlife Park look effortless, but it has taken more than just cute moves to get him into the swing of things.

Kaius’ life began dramatically when his mother faced complications during birth.

In a panic and assuming the danger was coming from the newborn gorilla, his family abandoned him.

By the time the keepers retrieved Kaius, he was critically ill, suffering from a life-threatening sepsis infection.

“He should have died, multiple times, but each time he pulled through,” Zookeeper Chad Staples told the Sunday Telegraph.

2yr old gorilla Kaius pictured at Mogo Zoo on the South Coast of NSW today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I took on the role of hand-raising him, and for seven months we were attached at the hip.

“The first weeks were especially intense—feeding every two hours, hooked up to a breathing machine, a drip, and a nasal tube.

“It was full-on and while it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, I’ll never do it again,” he laughed.

Kaius pictured at Mogo Zoo on the South Coast of NSW. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Kaius pictured at Mogo Zoo on the South Coast of NSW. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Despite his odds, Kaius thrived and in a first for Australia, keepers succeeded in reintroducing him to gorilla life, first with a surrogate mother and then, six months later, with the rest of his biological family.

“This has never been done here before,” said Zookeeper Chad.

“Overseas, attempts to reintroduce hand-raised gorillas have often ended in tragedy.

2yr old gorilla Kaius. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Going in blind, we took thousands of small steps to make sure it all went right in the end.”

Now at a healthy 15 kilograms, Kaius is a ‘lively and curious youngster,’ delighting the Park’s visitors with his playful antics.

“He’s got that beautiful innocence of a baby—he’s extremely confident, and everything is a toy to him.

“While his diet includes all the usual gorilla fare, tomatoes, eggplants, and banana leaves are firm favourites.

Kaius is back with his family. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“His grandmother has taken on the motherly role, while his biological mother is more like an older sister.”

And his father, a 220-kilogram silverback now happily protects the tiny toddler, who, despite his dramatic start to life, is learning how to be a gorilla from the best teachers possible—his family.

Originally published as Baby gorilla who beat the odds puts on an adorable show