In 1996, Binti Jua, an 8-year-old female Western lowland gorilla, tended to a 3-year-old boy who had fallen into her enclosure at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois.
The child had climbed the wall and fallen 24 feet (7.3m), breaking his hand and receiving a large gash on his face. Binti walked over and cradled the boy in her arms. She carried him over to the service entrance and handed him over to her zookeepers. Her 17-month old baby, Koola clutched her back throughout the whole ordeal.
For many months after the incident, Binti received special treats and food from her caretakers and drew in huge crowds. She is still alive today at 34 years old and has had three granddaughters and one great-grandson.
