Then, a tiny, gurgling rumble started deep inside the baby gorilla’s throat.

The fierce, terrifying scream transformed instantly into a soft, uncontrollable burst of baby giggles.

Leo rolled onto his side, kicking his tiny black feet into the air with sheer, unadulterated delight.

Marcus didn’t stop his frantic comedic routine for a single second.

He did little funny nose twitches, made goofy grunting sounds, and gently tickled the air right above Leo’s tummy with his giant, coarse fingers.

The crowd behind the glass safety panel began to clap and chuckle softly at the touching spectacle unfolding before them.

They were watching a four-hundred-pound apex primate perform top-tier slapstick comedy just to keep his tiny baby entertained and calm.

Leo reached up with his tiny, soft hand, catching Marcus’s giant index finger in a firm, surprisingly strong baby grip.

He pulled the gigantic finger to his small face and nuzzled his nose against his father’s thick leather skin.

All the chaos, all the sudden terror from the popped balloon, melted away into the warm summer afternoon air.

Marcus slowly let out a long, quiet breath, his muscular shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours.

He looked down at his tiny son, who was now yawning deeply, his small eyelids growing heavy once again from the exhaustion of laughing so hard.

Leo curled back up into a tight, dark little ball against the warm surface of the stone boulder.

Within less than two minutes, the tiny baby’s breathing slowed down to a soft, rhythmic hum once again.

He was fast asleep, resting peacefully right beside his father’s protective hand.

Just as the baby closed his eyes, the heavy wooden door of the inner shaded den creaked open softly.

Maya stepped out into the bright sunlight, stretching her arms, blinking against the afternoon glare, and looking around the enclosure.

She walked over with slow, deliberate steps, her sharp eyes scanning the scene to check on her baby.

Marcus sat up extra straight, puffing his chest out proudly, adopting the most regal, calm, and effortlessly relaxed posture he could muster.

He pointed subtly down at the sleeping baby with a calm, casual nod of his heavy head, as if to say, “Everything was completely smooth and handled like a professional.”