Busch Gardens video shows gorilla mimicking his trainer

An incredible video shows the moment a western lowland gorilla mimics his trainer at a Busch Gardens in Florida.

‘Take a look at this progression of enrichment moments with Bolingo and animal care specialist, Rachel!’ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay wrote in the caption of their video that was posted on Facebook. 

Bolingo, was born at the amusement park in 2005, to mother Kishina and father Cenzoo. 

In the adorable video, Bolingo’s trainer, Rachel (right) is seen doing a handstand with her feet against the glass of the gorilla’s enclosure

Each time she moves her foot, Bolingo is seen placing his hand directly in front of her feet

Each time she moves her foot, Bolingo is seen placing his hand directly in front of her feet

Since his birth, animal care specialists have been working with him to provide him ‘with the most mentally and physically stimulating environment possible’.

‘This type of training enables us to build trusting and positive relationships with the animals that call Busch Gardens Tampa Bay home,’ the trainers wrote on Facebook. 

In the adorable video, Bolingo’s trainer is seen doing a handstand with her feet against the glass of the gorilla’s enclosure. 

Each time she moves her foot, Bolingo is seen placing his hand directly in front of her feet. 

At one point, the intelligent gorilla places his foot on the glass just like his trainer. 

Toward the end of the video, Bolingo surprised his trainer when he did a handstand exactly like she did. 

At one point, the intelligent gorilla places his foot on the glass just like his trainer

At one point, the intelligent gorilla places his foot on the glass just like his trainer

Toward the end of the video, Bolingo surprised his trainer when he did a handstand exactly like she did

Toward the end of the video, Bolingo surprised his trainer when he did a handstand exactly like she did

A photo of Bolingo and his trainer Rachel shows the two placing their faces up against the glass, appearing to hug one another

A photo of Bolingo and his trainer Rachel shows the two placing their faces up against the glass, appearing to hug one another

A photo of Bolingo and his trainer Rachel shows the two placing their faces up against the glass, appearing to hug one another. 

Bolingo, who is almost 13 years old, was the first gorilla born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.   

His birth was a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which aims to cooperatively manage typically threatened or endangered species populations within accredited facilities.

In 2014, Bolingo became a father when baby Enzi was born to him and Pele, a western lowland gorilla who was transferred to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2010.

A year later, Bolingo became a father-of-two when Kamari was born to him and her mother, Mary.  

Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered.

No one is sure how many live in the wild but their population is thought to have declined by 60 per cent over the last 20 to 25 years.

In the wild, they live in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea as well as in large areas in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. 

Bolingo, was born at the amusement park in 2005, to mother Kishina and father Cenzoo.

Bolingo (sitting on the rock) is pictured with female gorilla Pele

Bolingo, was born at the amusement park in 2005, to mother Kishina and father Cenzoo. Bolingo is pictured (left) at just a few weeks old with his mother Kishina. Bolingo (sitting on the rock) is seen with female gorilla Pele (right) 

In 2014, Bolingo (bottom) became a father when baby Enzi was born to him and Pele (top right), a western lowland gorilla who was transferred to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2010

In 2014, Bolingo (bottom) became a father when baby Enzi was born to him and Pele (top right), a western lowland gorilla who was transferred to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2010

It is the most widespread of all gorilla subspecies and is the smallest in size.

The average Western lowland gorillas stands between four and five-and-a-half-feet tall on two feet and weighs 440lbs.

The hunting and killing of the gorillas is illegal, but some babies are captured for pets, while adults are killed for their fur or meat.

Many gorillas have also died from the Ebola virus. Some scientists estimate that one third of the gorilla population has been wiped out by the virus, which is also deadly to humans.

Up to 90 per cent of the population living in the Minkébé Forest in north east Gabon are thought to have died from Ebola. 



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