The Amazing Story Of How 8-Year-Old Boy Who Fell Into A Gorilla Enclosure Got Heroically Rescued By One Of The Mother Gorillas

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Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Dec 11, 2023 11:00 AM EST

There are some stories about animals that we read, and we actually have a hard time believing. How can it be true that a man became best friends with a giant fish? Or that a diver helped an itty bitty octopus? Or that a parrot saved the life of a toddler? But these things happen. Against all odds and amazing as they are, these stories are real, and today's story, believe it or not, is real as well.

Many, many years ago, before people were quite as aware of the dangers of taking their kids to the zoo, a boy happened to fall into the enclosure with the gorillas. The boy's arm broke, the public panicked… We have seen this happen, and we know how bad it can get for all involved. But not in this case. In this case, the boy was lucky, because one of the gorillas in the enclosure was a mother, and she decided to help. 

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  • 01
    Fascinating → @fascinate Subscribe In 1996, an unidentified 8-year-old boy slipped away from his mother, climbed over a barrier, and fell into the Gorilla Enclosure. Due to the 20 ft fall, the boy broke his hand and suffered a deep laceration to his face. Seven gorillas inhabited the enclosure. Gorillas are known to be fiercely territorial animals.
    via @fasc1nate

    Knowing, based on other stories that we have heard, just how different this specific story could have ended… makes us even more grateful that it did not. Things could have gone so much worse, but instead, we got an extremely wholesome story that we are so glad to see go viral. 

  • 02
    They will fight to the death to defend their families. However, one of the gorillas, called Binti Jua, meaning "daughter of sunshine" went over to the boy and cradled him in her arms, all while her own young child was on her back. She then went over to the edge of the enclosure and waited for the zookeepers to come and collect the child.
    via @fasc1nate

    We hope that a historical story like this one going viral will be informative to people - will remind them that animals can be kind and should be given a chance. And also will remind parents to please watch their kids whenever they take them to the zoo. 

  • 03
    Binti handed the child over peacefully before returning to the rest of the gorillas. Binti received worldwide praise and received regular treats for the next few weeks. The boy and the mother have never been identified, but the boy did stay in a hospital for 4 days. Animal behavioral experts claim Binti used her maternal instincts to look after the child. This may have been influenced by the fact that she had her own baby Gorilla with her at the time.
    via @fasc1nate
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    6:38 AM 06 Dec 23 35.3M Views 8,509 Reposts 768 Quotes 143K Likes 8,874 Bookmarks
    via @fasc1nate
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    Mr Commonsense @fopminui S Replying to @fascinate Best picture ever: An Orangutan reaching out to save a man in the snake infested water. I think this is one of the best pictures I have ever seen.... Follow 9:13 AM 06 Dec 23.1.2M Views
    via @fopminui
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    Time Capsule Tales & @timecaptales Follow Replying to @fascinate Koko was taught American Sign Language (ASL) by Dr. Francine "Penny" Patterson and other researchers, starting in 1972. Koko learned over 1,000 signs in ASL and could understand about 2,000 words of spoken English. She used this ability to express her thoughts, feelings, and desires, engaging in complex conversations with her trainers. For example, Koko famously asked for a pet kitten for Christmas and was able to name it "All Ball
    via @timecaptales
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    6:39 AM 06 Dec 23 520K Views
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    VisionaryVoid @VisionaryVoid Replying to @fascinate Compassion story: After losing his parents, Roscoe, a 3-year-old orangutan, was so depressed he wouldn't eat and didn't respond to medical treatment. The vets thought he may die from sadness. The zookeepers found an old dog on the grounds in the park at the zoo where the orangutan lived and took the dog to the animal treatment center. The dog arrived at the same time the orangutan was there being treated.. The two lost souls met and have been i
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    The Orangutan found a new reason to live and each of them always tries his best to be a good companion to his newfound friend. They are together 24 hours a day in all activities. They live in Northern California where swimming is their favorite pastime. Although Roscoe (the orangutan) is a little afraid of the water and needs his friend's help to swim. Together they have discovered the joy and laughter in life and the value of friendship
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    6:40 AM 06 Dec 23 2.8M Views
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    Cheezburger Image 9849336832
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    24
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    Cheezburger Image 9849337856
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    VisionaryVoid @VisionaryVoid Follow Replying to @fascinate Meet Fu Manchu, the ingenious orangutan from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska. This clever primate became a sensation in the late 1960s for his remarkable escapades. Fu Manchu was known for his friendly and playful nature, often interacting with other animals and his human keepers. But in 1968, something peculiar began to happen. Fu Manchu and his enclosure-mates were frequently found outside their enclosure.
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    The mystery deepened as the group never caused trouble or tried to leave the zoo grounds; they simply enjoyed exploring other parts of the zoo. Their favorite spot was the elm trees near the elephant enclosure. The head keeper initially suspected that a staff member was leaving a door unlocked. However, the truth was far more fascinating. Fu Manchu had been picking the lock to the enclosure using a piece of wire he'd found.
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    The most astonishing part? To hide his tool, Fu Manchu would tuck the wire between his lip and his gums, taking it out only when he wanted to escape. His lock-picking skills were so impressive that he was awarded an honorary membership to the American Association of Locksmiths.
    via @VisionaryVoid
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    6:41 AM 06 Dec 23 468K Views .
    via @VisionaryVoid

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