Columbus zoo: Viral moment highlights gorilla-human bond
What an incredible moment! A recording has surfaced showing a gorilla "kissing" a girl at the zoo – of course, not in the literal sense of the word. And now someone says that monkeys, or rather gorillas, are not similar to humans. You just have to see it.
This year has been exceptional for the Columbus Zoo in Ohio regarding events related to gorillas. Last month, the zoo welcomed a new member to its family. The thirty-fifth gorilla was born at this facility.
This is a significant success for the zoo's breeding program, which has been working for years to protect this endangered species. Visitors can see the new member of the gorilla family in a specially prepared room in the Congo Expedition zone.
Besides the birth of the baby gorilla, the zoo also gained fame due to an extraordinary recording that went viral on social media. A TikTok user captured the touching moment of interaction between a gorilla and a small child visiting the zoo.
Gorilla "kissed" a girl at the zoo
The online recording shows a touching interaction between a gorilla and a human infant. Seeing the child behind the glass, the gorilla approached and gently "kissed" the glass where the baby's head was. This scene shows how close relationships can be between humans and our closest relatives in the animal world.
Columbus Zoo has a long history of success in protecting gorillas. In 1956, it became the first zoo in the world where a gorilla was born in captivity. Since then, the facility has gained international recognition for its breeding program and efforts to protect these majestic animals.
Critically endangered species
It's worth emphasising that the western lowland gorillas, to which the individuals at Columbus Zoo belong, are a critically endangered. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of these animals in the wild is drastically decreasing. That's why conservation and breeding programmes conducted at zoos are so important.
The actions of Columbus Zoo demonstrate the crucial role that modern zoos play in the protection of endangered species. Through education, scientific research, and breeding programmes, facilities like Columbus Zoo contribute to the preservation of our planet's biodiversity for future generations.
