In 1996, an unidentified 8-year-old boy slipped away from his mother, climbed over a barrier, and fell into the Gorilla Enclosure.
Due to the 20 ft fall, the boy broke his hand and suffered a deep laceration to his face. Seven gorillas inhabited the enclosure. Gorillas are known to be fiercely territorial animals.
They will fight to the death to defend their families. However, one of the gorillas, called Binti Jua, meaning “daughter of sunshine” went over to the boy and cradled him in her arms, all while her own young child was on her back.
She then went over to the edge of the enclosure and waited for the zookeepers to come and collect the child.
Binti handed the child over peacefully before returning to the rest of the gorillas. Binti received worldwide praise and received regular treats for the next few weeks.
The boy and the mother have never been identified, but the boy did stay in a hospital for 4 days.
Animal behavioral experts claim Binti used her maternal instincts to look after the child. This may have been influenced by the fact that she had her own baby Gorilla with her at the time.
Macaulay Culkin pays tribute to fiancee Brenda Song during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony:
“You’re not only the best woman I’ve ever known, you’re the best person I’ve ever known. You’ve given me just all my purpose, you’ve given me family and after the birth of our two boys, you’ve become one of my three favourite people.”
Egyptian innovation means they’re probably opening up a coffee shop next to the boat stuck in Suez where they can talk about how our ancestors built the pyramids rather than actually helping to move the boat
A remarkably warm, uplifting and encouraging blessing we can share with one another for the week to come:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Num6:24-26