On 31 August 1986, five-year-old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla enclosure and lost consciousness. Jambo stood guard over the boy when he was unconscious, placing himself between the boy and other gorillas in what ethologists analyze as a protective gesture. He later stroked the unconscious boy’s back.

  • ChonkyOwlbear
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    2 days ago

    IIRC this happened in Illinois as well. A female gorilla who had babies in the past picked up the boy, took him to the door to the enclosure, and patiently waited to hand him over to the zookeepers.