In 1996, at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, United States, a three-year-old boy was playing around when he fell into the gorilla enclosure and lost consciousness. Although gorillas are generally gentle, they can become aggressive if they feel their territory is being invaded, making the situation extremely dangerous.
While the boy’s family and the onlookers were frozen in panic, not knowing what to do, one gorilla began walking boldly toward the child. What the gorilla did next astonished everyone. She sat the boy gently on her lap and softly patted his back. Then she used her body as a shield to protect the child, making sure no other gorilla could come close. When the rescue team arrived, she even carried the boy over and handed him to them. Thanks to her, the boy was safely reunited with his parents.
The gorilla, named Binti Jua, was a female who had raised a baby of her own. Experts explained that her behavior was likely driven by maternal instinct. It seems the saying, “A mother’s heart is the same everywhere,” applies even to animals.