In 1996, at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, a 3-year-old boy fell 25 feet into a gorilla enclosure and sustained severe injuries. The boy’s mother screamed in panic, and with seven gorillas present, including a 160-pound female named Binti Jua, the situation seemed dire. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, Binti Jua’s maternal instincts took over. She calmly approached the unconscious child, shielding him from potential harm while carrying her own baby on her back.
Binti Jua gently placed the boy near the enclosure’s entrance, allowing zookeepers and paramedics to safely retrieve him. The boy survived with a broken hand and some bruises. Binti Jua’s actions quickly became a symbol of empathy and earned her global admiration for her compassion.
Experts debated whether her behavior was learned or instinctual, but her actions clearly displayed deep empathy. Her story highlighted that compassion knows no species boundaries. The boy, whose identity remains private, made a full recovery. Binti Jua’s legacy continues as a reminder of the universal instinct to protect and care for others, regardless of differences.
