Yakini the gorilla became a media darling as a baby nine years ago.
But he’s all grown up now – and apparently has decided it is time to leave the nest.
Using a palm frond, Yakini clambered out of his pen at the Melbourne Zoo in Australia yesterday, escaping for a 20-minute walkabout.
Zookeepers were only able to coax him back to his pen by luring him with bananas.
Adorable images of Yakini squishing his little face up as a vet listened to his heart with a stethoscope were beamed around the world nine years ago, prompting ‘Awwwwws’ from people everywhere.
They even drew a visit from the Queen, who was in Melbourne at the time.
All grown up: Yakini pictured in his pen at the Melbourne Zoo after his escape yesterday
Queen Elizabeth met Yakini, pictured here when he was four months old, when he was a baby
He was born at the Melbourne Zoo by Caesarean section in November, 1999. His heart was barely beating and he was not breathing.
Zookeepers in 12-hour shifts watched him around the clock until he grew strong and healthy.
Now Yakini lives a bachelor life as the zoo with his father and brother.
Yakini at four months, looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth
Yakini had to have round-the-clock care at his birth
The zoo said visitors were ushered out of harm’s way and into the giftshop near the zoo’s entrance until the 20-minute drama was over, justbefore closing time yesterday.
Zookeepers lured Yakini into the elephant barn with a bunch of banannas.
Once inside the barn, a zoo spokeswoman said, he was sedated with a dart gun and returned to his cage.
‘He just went for a walk,’ she told AAP, adding that gorillas are gentle creatures.
‘He went into the barn and the next thing he knew he was waking up on a bed of straw in his den.’
