back to article Gorilla rampages through Dutch zoo

A 400lb silverback male gorilla has injured four people after escaping from his compound at Rotterdam's Blijdorp zoo, the Telegraph reports. Bokito climbed the wall of his enclosure, crossed a moat, grabbed 57-year-old Petronella Yvonne de Horde and dragged her through a cafeteria, "sending chairs and tables flying as he went …

COMMENTS

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  1. Andrew

    Well well well...

    "de Horde was a frequent visitor to the gorilla enclosure and, according to her daughter, "believed she had a 'special relationship' with Bokito"."

    Indeed. Isn't it always the way? You think you know someone, and then they just become a monster!

  2. Narak1

    facts vs fiction

    I live in Rotterdam pretty close to the zoo. First of all the woman was biten more then a 100 times. her wrist broken and her chest compressed. further more its not known wheter or not the group of teenagers really threw stones at the silverback. further more the moat wasnt the only thing holding him in there was allso a electric fence running at 7000 volts. wich is enough to deter a grown gorilla but not kill it. Also the silver back had a know history of escapes and was transfered from germany to holland.

  3. Planeten Paultje

    Eye contact and smiles

    News reports indicate that the lady made extensive eye contact with the gorilla, while also smiling. This may have been understood by the gorilla as threatning, thus leading to the attack.

    I guess a lot of signs will go up in zoo's, warning the public for making eye contact with and smiling at apes.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    King Kong

    "News reports indicate that the lady made extensive eye contact with the gorilla, while also smiling. This may have been understood by the gorilla as threatning, thus leading to the attack."

    Well, what if the gorilla had misunderstood the smiling as a sign of love? Also, it's not uncommon for some animals to show affection by biting.

    The gorilla could've very well misunderstood and thought that lady as a possible mate.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oi, are you looking at my banana?

    According to Expatica (www.expatica.nl):

    On a previous visit, the woman had actually been warned by a park attendant that she should stop making eye contact with the gorilla, as it was likely to enrage it.

    Perhaps the other injured persons should think about taking her to court?

  6. John

    Cheap First Date

    So he thinks he can impress a lady by going to a zoo cafeteria on a first date ? No wonder she wasn't impressed.

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