In 1996, at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, a 3-year-old boy fell 25 feet into a gorilla enclosure, injuring himself severely. The boy’s mother screamed, and seven gorillas were inside, including Binti Jua, a 160-pound female. Amid the panic, Binti Jua’s maternal instincts kicked in. She gently approached the unconscious child, shielding him from harm, even while carrying her own baby on her back.
Binti Jua carefully placed the boy near the entrance, allowing zookeepers and paramedics to safely retrieve him. The boy survived with a broken hand and some bruises. Binti Jua’s actions became a symbol of empathy, and she was celebrated worldwide for her compassion.
Experts debated whether her behavior was learned or innate, but her act reflected deep empathy. Her story showed that compassion transcends species. The boy, whose identity was kept private, made a full recovery. Binti Jua’s legacy lives on as a reminder of the universal instinct to protect and care for others, regardless of our differences.