Off The Record
When a Child Fell, She Did the Unthinkable — Binti Jua’s Brave Moment Stunned Millions
In a chaotic and unpredictable world, there are moments that serve as a reminder of our close connection to all living things.
One such instance occurred more than 20 years ago at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, where a 160-pound female gorilla named Binti Jua performed a remarkable act that moved millions of people.
The unlikely hero
A 3-year-old boy’s day to the zoo took a horrifying turn on a sunny July afternoon in 1996. The boy suffered serious injuries after falling 25 feet to the earth below by scaling a barrier that surrounded the gorilla enclosure.
Uncertain of what might happen next, the boy’s mother and guests let out a horrified scream. Seven large primates were relaxing inside the cage.
Binti Jua, a rare female gorilla from the western lowlands, was one of the animals.
Captain of the Kankakee Fire Department. Jeff Bruno still has vivid memories of that summer day.
”Aug. 16 — 2:10 p.m.,” he told CBS in 2016.
When Jeff and two other families heard the boy’s mother scream and witnessed Binti Jua’s amazing reaction, they were at the zoo.
The child struck his head and passed out at the time of the fall.
While his brother-in-law grabbed his already-running camera and recorded the incredible rescue, Bruno offered to assist. Later, the video went viral and still holds viewers’ attention today.
If someone had recounted the tale without the cameras, it might have been difficult to believe, yet the gorilla quietly approached the comatose toddler in the middle of the chaos.
Binti Jua’s mother instincts took over right away, even in the face of peril. The video shows her scanning her surroundings, looking up, left, and right as if seeking help. It’s amazing how she understood what to do on instinct.
Her baby Koola was still on her back as she held the kid tenderly in her arms, protecting him from harm.
Used a hose to drive away the other gorillas
Binti Jua laid the boy near the exhibit entrance and then promptly retreated, allowing zookeepers and paramedics to safely rescue him as zoo staff used a hose to chase away the other gorillas.
”We assessed (the boy) and we packaged him up. I think we used duct tape because that’s all that was there,” Bruno said.
Some people think the gorilla made this conscious decision because she knew how important it was to get the boy to safety. Despite his injuries, the young boy survived the incident with only minor bruises and a broken hand.
The tale of Binti Jua’s valiant deeds quickly gained popularity and became a symbol of compassion and empathy. The closeness between a human child and a gorilla astonished people worldwide. After the incident, the zoo received little criticism.
Visitors flocked to the zoo to see the gorilla’s loving and protective character up close, and for months, the media couldn’t stop raving about the unintentional hero.
As people flocked to the zoo to see the caring gorilla who saved a youngster, she was lavished with extra goodies and attention from zoo workers.
Newsweek honored Binti Jua as its ”Hero of the Year,” while People magazine included her among its ”Most Intriguing People”—despite the fact that she wasn’t technically a person.
Even more amazing is the fact that Binti Jua’s performance wasn’t only the product of her zoo training, even though she had been hand-raised and trained to take care of baby gorillas.
According to specialists like primatologist Frans de Waal, her acts demonstrated a higher sense of empathy and caring, which is indicative of true animal altruism.
Despite being trained in a zoo, her maternal instincts were as instinctive as any mother’s protective instincts, demonstrating that the need to care for, nurture, and protect others is a universal human trait.
The aftermath – what happened
The tragedy also sparked expert debates. While some thought Binti Jua’s behavior demonstrated natural sensitivity, others questioned whether it was the product of meticulous zoo training.
Binti received specialized training to care for baby gorillas and learned how to take her own children to zoo staff for examinations because she had been hand-raised by humans instead of being raised by her mother, who had rejected her at birth.
People have traditionally viewed gorillas as frightening animals due to their strong physique, which includes long arms, thick bones, and stocky frames.
However, Hollywood depictions of them are more responsible for their reputation for ferocity, with movies like King Kong contributing to the myth. However, as demonstrated by Binti Jua, these stereotypes couldn’t be more untrue.
Jambo, another gorilla at the Jersey Zoo, saved a toddler who fell into his cage in a similar scenario. However, the beauty of the acts themselves is not diminished by the argument over what drives animals to behave in such kind ways.
Who was the boy Binti Jua saved
Because his parents requested that his name not be released, very little is known about the youngster Binti Jua saved that day. We do know that initially, doctors classified him as critically ill, but they anticipated a full recovery.
He sustained numerous scratches and scrapes, a broken bone in one hand, and damage to his head.
One of his doctors posted an update a few days after the incident, indicating that the kid was doing remarkably well.
“He’s acting quite normal. He does not remember anything about the events and we haven’t asked him anything about it.”
The story of Binti Jua serves as a reminder that kindness may arise from the most unlikely places during a time when the world seems to be becoming more and more divided.
The innate desire to care for and demonstrate empathy for others is universal, whether it is a parent defending their child or a gorilla defending an unidentified infant.
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