He just wanted a baby doll to play with.
By nature gorillas are highly social animals living in troops. Being in [ca.piti.vity] must adversely affect a gorilla’s emotional well-being.
They see children everyday and want to connect with them. They are social beings.
At a local zoo, a little girl accidentally dropped her doll into a gorilla enclosure. Staff went in to retrieve it, expecting the gorilla to ignore the toy and walk away. This gorilla in particular was known as one of the gentle ones, calm around caretakers and softer than the other gorillas kept in a different enclosure.
But when staff got close, he wasn’t giving anything back. Instead, he tucked the doll behind his back.
When a zookeeper stepped closer, the gorilla backed away and looked off to the side like he had no idea what she was asking for.
The crowd started laughing. Then he shook his head.
Staff tried again, speaking gently, but the gorilla kept backing away, hiding the doll behind his back like it had suddenly become his favorite thing in the whole enclosure.
The little girl watched for a moment, then surprised everyone by saying he could keep it. Zoo staff gave her a new plushie, and she left smiling.
Later, after the crowd was gone, cameras caught the gorilla sitting quietly for hours, gently playing with the doll like it was something precious.
The little girl lost her doll that day, but the gorilla looked like he had found a new friend.
Only injured animals that cannot be released safely back out into the wild should be in our care and perhaps if they are sociable and enjoy it create a way for these animals to contribute to educating children about how gorgeous and precious wildlife is and how fortunate we are to share the planet with these other intelligent sensitive amazing beings.
Just wants something to love…💕.. how would you feel in there on your own…and everyone looking down on you…?
