Red tape stops baby gorilla Kaius making gradual move into adult enclosure at Mogo Wildlife Park

Just when he thought it was safe to enter the ape world …. hand-raised world-famous gorilla Kaius has hit another hurdle.

Just when he thought it was safe to enter the ape world …. hand-raised world-famous gorilla Kaius has hit another hurdle.

The 14-month-old primate is ready to explore the grown-up enclosure at Mogo Wildlife Park, decked out with trees, ropes and a moat, but red tape has again stunted his progress.

Zoo-keeper Chad Staples wanted to familiarise Kaius with the new surroundings for short periods of time each day, before he enters the enclosure full-time with his adopted mum G Anne.

“I wanted him to get used to the exhibit, know his new surroundings, get comfortable with the water and the moat, for short stints while people are around so it’s not all too daunting in one go for him,” Mr Staples told The Sunday Telegraph.

“My plan was to do controlled sessions, inviting small groups of people to watch, and me sitting on the edge of the moat ready to jump in if needed,” he said.

Zoo keeper Chad Staples is keen to introduce Kaius to the primate enclosure at Mogo Zoo. Picture: Supplied

“There have been great apes drown in moats all around the world if unaware what they are or of the boundary they present,” he said.

“The accomplishment of reintroduction back to another gorilla cannot be undersold, with many major zoos unable to achieve the feat without serious injury or death to the infant.”

Mr Staples says red tape is stymieing Kaius’s progress.

Kaius had a rough start to life and was raised by Mr Staples.

Mr Staples said he needed to also factor in Kaius’ response to a crowd.

“My fear would be that if he is in there straight up with G Anne on his own, there are new surroundings and then people oohing and aahing over him and crowding around because we all know he is very popular, then that would be a bit too much all at once,” he said.

“Then if something went wrong and they were in there together, I would have no way of intervening — the full-grown mother gorilla would not cope with the human intervention and it would be dangerous for everyone.”

But the NSW Department of Primary Industries has knocked back the request, saying legislation prevents Kaius from being on display without other gorillas.

“It absolutely doesn’t make sense. I’m allowed to take him on exhibit and separate him from her as long as it is not during visiting hours,” Mr Staples said.

“The welfare unit, which is really just another layer of bureaucracy, somehow think that being with me is detrimental to his welfare even though separation happens multiple times a day for feedings, cleaning and training — just like every gorilla.

“It feels to me it’s a ‘no’ for no’s sake.”

Mr Staples feels Kaius is ready to take the next step in he assimilation with adult primates. Picture: Supplied

Mr Staples has asked Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to intervene.

“I can’t believe it’s taken getting a minister involved for commonsense and true animal welfare to prevail,” he said.

It’s not the first time Kaius has drawn the ire of DPI investigators since coming into the world in dramatic circumstances 14 months ago.

There were birthing issues with his mum, he then developed sepsis pneumonia and was hand-raised by Mr Staples after some touch-and-go days.

In February Mr Staples found himself the subject of an impromptu inspection after an anonymous complaint.

Before that he was forbidden to travel with the baby gorilla to his other zoo in Sydney.

“Rather than the unit reaching out to help and be part of Kaius'’ reintroduction, they chose to treat me as someone without the best intentions rather than the 26-year animal specialist I am,” Mr Staples said at the time.

For months Mr Staples put his life on hold, sharing his bedroom with the bub who weighed just 2.2kg and needed feeding through a tube.

Next he patiently exposed Kaius to his aunt G Anne and supervised their visits through a cage, until finally his gut told him it was time for the two to be reunited.

Mr Staples said he hopes this latest hiccup will be resolved quickly and Kaius, and the visitors, can enjoy each other.

Ms Moriarty has been contacted for comment.

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Originally published as Red tape stops baby gorilla Kaius making gradual move into adult enclosure at Mogo Wildlife Park