Footage of a silverback gorilla protecting a boy who fell into his enclosure at Jersey Zoo has resurfaced following the death of a man mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The video, captured by cameraman Brian Le Lion, shows Jambo the ape approaching Levan Merritt after the boy fell 20 feet into a pit. The incident happened 40 years ago when Levan was on holiday with his family.
Gorilla's protective behaviour
The male silverback, who stood seven feet tall and weighed 18 stone, stroked the back of the boy, who had broken his arm and fractured his skull in the fall. Jambo was credited with protecting Levan. When Levan woke up and cried out, Jambo led his troop into their shelter.
Paramedic Brian Fox then jumped into the enclosure and took Levan out as zoo keepers kept another gorilla away so he could treat the boy.
Survivor's recollections
Years later, Levan, from West Sussex, told the Mail he first watched video of the encounter in hospital. He said: "I remember being incredibly surprised and quite shocked. I obviously couldn't believe what had happened."
Levan told the publication he was grateful to Jambo, saying what happened could have gone one or two ways. He added: "It was amazing how he protected me in that way."
Rescuers and aftermath
Mr Fox, speaking to the BBC in 2016, said what he did was part of the job and he just "got on with it". He told the broadcaster he made the decision to jump into the enclosure when he saw Levan turn on his back and go unconscious.
Keeper Andy Wood, who was second in charge of the apes, also entered the enclosure in case Mr Fox needed to be protected. Bird keeper Gary Clarke joined him.
Levan spent six weeks recovering at Southampton Hospital and in 2016 spoke of one day taking his own children back to the zoo to show them where it had all unfolded.
Legacy and recent context
Jambo died in 1992. A bronze statue was created for the zoo in honour of his memory. Richard Johnston-Scott, head of apes from the 1970s until 2011, said he had worked with Jambo for some seven years. He added: "I got to know him really well. I don't think that child was in any danger from the gorillas."
Levan's story has re-emerged after the death of William Chapman, who was mauled to death by an Amur tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday (October 10). The 23-year-old's family paid tribute to a "bright, warm and engaging young man".
Footage of Jambo appearing to protect Levan was posted on social media in the days after Mr Chapman's death. In response, X-user Artem Faustov said: "Sometimes animals show more human behaviour than humans." Another, Satyaraj Mahilang, wrote: "An extraordinary moment the world still remembers." While a third X-user, Rohan, commented: "Gorillas are straight up the most gentle and beautiful animals on the planet."
