Sir David Attenborough has said it was “hardly surprising” a silverback gorilla which escaped from London Zoo was “fed up” after being subjected to visitors watching him through a glass panel for up to 10 hours a day.
The naturalist and broadcaster, 90, said he felt “deep, deep sympathy and sorrow” for captive gorillas after Kumbuka escaped from his enclosure on Wednesday. The male gorilla entered the secure keepers’ area before being recaptured a few hours later. He did not enter into public areas at any point.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Sir David urged visitors to show more compassion and respect the “wonderful” animals’ privacy.
“In the forests of west Africa, they don’t live out in the open," he said. "They aren’t stared at by people. They value their privacy.
“To be subjected to ... to have a panel of glass, for 10 hours a day or whatever it is.
“If the people were respectful that would be something.
“Sometimes visitors to zoos are not respectful and they start shrieking or waving their arms in order to get the poor gorilla to do something.
“You might think, oh they’re just animals. They are not just animals. They are related to us. They value their privacy. Just imagine what it’s like to be there. […] That finally the alpha male, the big gorilla, got fed up with it, is hardly surprising.“
The Independent has contacted ZSL London Zoo for comment.
