As couples across Perth celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re looking at some of the cutest and quirky couples at the Zoo.

You will be surprised to see where love languages come into play in the animal kingdom!
 
Jermei and Kayak – words of affirmation

Meet our Northern White-cheeked Gibbons, Jermei and Kayak, the Zoo’s ultimate modern couple.

Young male Kayak swung onto the scene in 2023, when Jermei’s daughter Lulani was still very little.

In gibbon families, the mums are the boss, their children are next in charge, and the males usually end up at the bottom of the ladder.  

So, when the girls welcomed Kayak with open arms, it was a family match made in heaven!

Every single morning, Kayak and Jermei perform a beautiful duet together.

The daily gesture is a primate words of affirmation as it strengthens their bond and in the wild tells everyone this is their territory!

The special call is so loud it can be heard from up to 1km away, and here at the Zoo our keepers have to wear special earmuffs when in close range.

Now that’s what we call making your love heard.

Shrimp and Charlie – quality time

Little Penguins are the smallest penguin species in the world! That means single males have to work extra hard to stand out.

To impress a female, the males perform a special courtship dance! He’ll stand tall, flippers above his back, neck stretched with head tilted back and make an impressive braying sound to attract a lady love. 

Charlie clearly impressed female Shrimp with his moves as the pair welcomed a chick last year together.

Little penguin pairs often stay together for life and spend lots of time building nests and burrows as a team.

Shrimp and Charlie have a future filled with plenty of quality time as their family grows!  

Mindjil and Laurie – acts of service

Like many couples, Koalas, Midjil and Laurie like their own space.

Koalas live a solitary life, that’s why Mindjil and Laurie can be seen snoozing in separate trees.

These Australian mammals are serious sleepers known to rest for up to 18 hours per day!

When they want to connect, they meet in special “social trees,” where communication and courtship take centre stage.

This is where males like Laurie leave scent marks to let females know they’re around.

But that’s as far as the connection goes as females raise their young all by themselves.

Which Mindjil has proudly done since she welcomed a joey last June!

Their relationship may look more like a “situationship” but we think Mindjil and Laurie’s love language leans more towards acts of service. There’s no cuddles or singing, but they express their affection through natural behaviours.  

Saati and Squid – physical touch

Otters in general are not usually known to mate for life, but Asian small-clawed Otters are a rare exception! This special species form strong bonds that last for years.

Ever since they arrived from different zoos in 2024, Squid has followed Saati everywhere. It was love at first splash!

These otters stay connected through physical touch every chance they get.   

Saati and Squid sleep tightly together, share fishy feasts and splash around side by side in their pool.

All of the shared moments help deepen their bond.

Playing together builds trust, close naps keep them feeling safe, and shared meals remind them they’re part of the same team!

What’s your love language?

Want to know what your partners love language is?

Take our quiz and we’ll tell you exactly how to show your love this Valentines Day!

It’s wild how much we have in common with our iconic animal couples.