A gorilla at the San Diego Zoo startled visitors when it broke through the protective glass in its enclosure on Saturday. The incident involved Denny, a 10-year-old western lowland gorilla, who managed to break one of three layers of tempered glass separating the animal from zoo guests. Another gorilla was present during the event.
Zoo officials confirmed that Denny was not injured and that both gorillas are being cared for behind the scenes until the damaged panel is replaced. They emphasized that only one layer of the multi-layered glass was compromised, and no visitors or staff were harmed.
Witness Katya Sutil described the moment she and her sister were startled by the gorilla’s actions. “We were looking down at our phones and didn’t notice he had taken a running start,” she said. “He hit the glass with his elbow or forearm directly in front of my face. I fell back a few feet, and when I looked up, I saw the gorilla staring at me before the glass cracked.”
The zoo has not provided a timeline for when the enclosure will reopen. Sutil noted that the two gorillas exhibited tense behavior, with one charging the other before disappearing and repeating the pattern.
Western lowland gorillas, like Denny, are classified as critically endangered. The San Diego Zoo participates in conservation efforts to protect these primates and their habitats.
