Columbus Zoo's viral gorilla video underscores conservation success
What an incredible moment! A recording has surfaced showing a gorilla "kissing" a girl at the zoo—not in the literal sense, of course. And now, someone says that monkeys, or rather gorillas, are not similar to humans. You have to see it.
This year has been exceptional for the Columbus Zoo in Ohio in terms of events related to gorillas. Last month, the zoo welcomed a new member to its family. The 35th gorilla was born at this facility.
This is a great 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. Upon 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 to have a gorilla 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 emphasizing that the western lowland gorillas, to which the individuals at Columbus Zoo belong, are 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 programs 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 programs, facilities like Columbus Zoo contribute to preserving our planet's biodiversity for future generations.
