Vic gorilla Yakini turns 15

As a tiny newborn he captured the hearts of Victorians.

Now, far from tiny, Yakini the gorilla is celebrating his 15th birthday.

Keepers at the Werribee Open Range Zoo will help the primate, who has taken over from his father Motaba as the dominant silverback male in the zoo's gorilla bachelor pad, mark the occasion.

Yakini was delivered by emergency caesarean in 1999 and received specialist care after his mother showed little interest in him.