Happy Baby Chimp Plays 'Airplane' On Her Mom's Feet & It Will Make Your Whole Day

If you've ever wondered how much humans and animals are alike, all you have to do is watch this sweet video of a happy baby chimp playing a game of "airplane" on her mom's feet at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. It's sure to make you smile — and maybe even rethink the connection we share with the animal kingdom!

Set to sweet music, the caption to the Facebook moment caught on camera by an animal care manager partially reads, "In this behind-the-scenes video, mom Halla, baby Kianga, and another supportive female, Kioja, have a sweet and gentle moment playing this classic family activity." Then, we see the mama chimpanzee holding the baby up with her feet and swaying her back and forth as the little one reaches out in amusement, mom not showing a single sign of being over parenting just yet. 

"It amazes me how they do the same thing humans do with their babies. They even give them kisses," said one person in the comments, as others ran to the section to recall playing airplane with their kids and either winding up covered in spit-up or getting a bloody nose. Ah, the joys of motherhood!

Baby Kianga was born at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium on May 15, 2026, to mom Halla, an adult chimpanzee at the zoo. Her birth was part of the facility's Wild Beginnings conservation and educational program that publicly celebrates new animal births and family growth at the zoo and aquarium.

Since her birth, Kianga has made a splash on social media, with the public choosing her name through online voting. Kianga means sunshine or ray of light in African Swahili. They have since shared updates that include the video of her playing airplane with her mom and showing off her first teeth.

For those in the Kansas City area or visiting, she can sometimes be seen looking adorable alongside her mom in the main habitat of the zoo. If you're not nearby and still can't get enough of baby animals, check out some of these other zoo cuties born in 2026 (so far) or these baby animals you just might become obsessed with!