Australian Wildlife Parks

Surviving has turned to thriving as gorgeous gorilla Kaius turns two, overcoming his sad start thanks to his devoted keeper and the eventual acceptance of his gorilla family in an Australian first.

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

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

Despite the odds, little Kaius thrived.

Until the end of March, people can have an intimate and personalised tour of Mogo Wildlife Park after it has closed to the public.

Among the wildlife park’s wonderful collection of endangered, exotic, and native species are the white rhino, two female baby giraffes born on 27 and 31 December, and a red panda who gave birth on 6 January.

The Wildlife Sunset Tours are only offered on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and run for about 90 minutes. A maximum of 20 people can book.

Zookeeper Chad Staples said the things you got to do on the tour were “pretty amazing”.

“You are there on your own, so it is a much more intimate experience.”

Two baby giraffes have been born just days apart in what Zookeeper Chad Staples describes as “rare” and “perfect” births.

The female calves were born at Mogo Wildlife Park on December 27 and 31.

Zookeeper Chad said mothers normally showed signs such as swelling, walking differently or waxy teats indicating the birth was imminent.

“These two girls were a bit more secretive,” he said.

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It’s a strange feeling looking at the cute lion cubs as they run about and explore their new home, all the while knowing a protective (if not overprotective) mother is never far away.

“Mum’s always keeping an eye on them,” zookeeper Chad Staples said.

“They’re very curious about people, so you find them doing a lot of people-watching and interacting with visitors to the zoo.

“People are just loving that!”

Born in January, Baako and Evelyn’s clubs are among the key attractions at Mogo Wildlife Park on the NSW South Coast, which is also home to gorillas, rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras, meerkats, tigers and more animals native to Australia and from far-away lands.

Like young children, two young lion cubs are finding their feet and busy exploring the world around them under the watchful eye of mum and dad.

Move over Taylor Swift, Australia is going gaga over a new celebrity that has captured hearts after a traumatic birth led to him being adopted by his furry aunt.

Step aside Taylor Swift, Australia has a new celebrity who is stealing everyone’s hearts.

Swift famously put Sydney Zoo in the spotlight during her recent stay, but now it’s Mogo Zoo’s newest attraction, baby gorilla Kaius, grabbing all the headlines.

Thousands of eager fans have come through the gates in recent months just to get a glimpse, some visitors even shedding a few tears at the sight of the 17 month old primate.

The cute gorilla has made his mark at Mogo Zoo on the NSW south coast, since moving in with the other gorillas in August last year.