A video capture at the Fort Worth Zoo goes viral. The video shows a tense moment between zookeepers and Elmo, a 34-year-old silverback gorilla.
The incident occurred on the 20th of October; however, only months later, it was shared.
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In the video, two zookeepers find themselves trapped in the gorilla enclosure with Elmo. The zookeeper panics and throws a bucket at Elmo. She runs behind a door and uses her radio to call for help.
Elmo seems calm but notices a second zookeeper hiding behind a tree. The second zookeeper seems trying to distract Elmo from the first zookeeper. Luckily, both zookeepers escape without being harmed.
While zoos play an important role in conservation efforts and educational outreach, the ethics of keeping such intelligent and complex animals in captivity are often debated.
Gorillas are critically endangered. Conservation efforts have led to a slight increase in their populations; however, they are still very much threatened by habitat destruction and poaching.
Gorillas in captivity are prone to obesity and heart disease. They lack their social structures and vast territories in wild populations. This might lead to potential stress and behavioral issues.
Although the details of how the zookeeper got into this situation are primarily unknown, the zoo reported that the incident occurred due to a keeper error. Staff had entered the yard unaware that the silverback was still in its habitat.