In a moment that continues to inspire decades later, Binti Jua, a western lowland gorilla at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, became an unlikely hero in 1996 when she protected a 3-year-old boy who had fallen into her enclosure.
On August 16, the boy slipped and fell 25 feet into the gorilla habitat, suffering serious injuries. As horrified visitors and the boy’s mother looked on, Binti Jua calmly approached the unconscious child, gently cradled him, and carried him to a door where zookeepers could reach him.
Witnesses, including Kankakee Fire Captain Jeff Bruno, were stunned by the gorilla’s compassionate response. “It was a moment I’ll never forget,” he said.
The story of Binti Jua remains a powerful reminder of the unexpected empathy and connection that can exist between humans and animals.
