30 November 2011
Yakini turns 12!

Now the housewarming party is over, it's time for the birthday party!

Yakini turns 12 this week and keepers at Werribee Open Range Zoo helped him to celebrate by giving him some special birthday treats.

A jelly cake and a big box of his favourite fruits, vegetables and dried fruits were among the many special treats.

Yakini and his half-brother, Ganyeka, and father Motaba, recently moved into their large new exhibit, following a move from Melbourne Zoo.

This was the first birthday party to be held in their new bachelor pad.

Yakini won the hearts of many people following a difficult caesarian birth which led to him being hand-raised by keepers for a year.

From tiny beginnings, he now weighs almost 140 kilograms and within the next couple of years he will develop into a silverback like his father.