Viral Video Shows Texas Zookeepers Cornered By Silverback Gorilla

@Ben306069 / TikTok

Two zookeepers faced a terrifying moment when they encountered a silverback gorilla in the World of Primates exhibit at the Fort Worth Zoo.

Despite recent circulation, zoo authorities clarified that the incident actually occurred in October 2023.

A viral TikTok video captured the tense moment when a 34-year-old male gorilla named Elmo started chasing a zookeeper who managed to hide behind a door in the enclosure. Elmo’s pursuit resulted in knocking over a large bin of food.

The second zookeeper could be seen carefully observing the gorilla’s movements and staying still as she had to remain behind a tree. She waited for Elmo to move away until she could dash to the door herself and shut it from the other side.

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Visitor Reactions

Shot from the visitor’s side of the habitat glass, the video’s audio captured the fear of the zoo visitors, with many gasping and others even praying for the zookeepers safety.

One woman’s voice could be heard saying, “God help her. God protect her.”

As the second zookeeper escaped, another bystander said, “Thank you, Lord.”

A man named Ben, under the username @Ben306069, was the one who posted the TikTok video of the incident. It has since garnered almost 75 million views.

Ben told Fox News Digital he was the “responding security officer.”

Fort Worth Zoo’s Statement

A representative from the Fort Worth Zoo stated:

“On Oct. 20, 2023, an incident led to two of our zookeepers sharing space with our 34-year-old silverback gorilla. Thankfully, there was no physical contact between keepers and gorilla; and all staff and animals are safe.”

“Every day, the zookeepers shift the gorilla troop into their indoor habitat so that keepers can place the animals’ lunch in their outdoor habitat. Due to keeper error, staff entered the yard unaware that the silverback was still in its habitat,” the zoo’s spokesperson continued.

“The zookeepers work with and train these animals every day and thanks to their knowledge and expertise, they navigated the situation calmly and were able to exit the yard safely.”

Despite the tense situation, everyone involved in the incident emerged safely.

Watch the TikTok video that captured the intense moment below.