Zola, a 14-year-old Western lowland gorilla, was caught on camera Tuesday showing off his break-dancing moves at the Dallas Zoo. (Image source: YouTube screenshot)
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Watch: Viral video shows Dallas Zoo's break-dancing gorilla staying cool in Texas heat
June 23, 2017
A gorilla at the Dallas Zoo isn't letting the overwhelming Texas heat stop him from having some fun in the sun.
Zola, a 14-year-old Western lowland gorilla, was caught on camera Tuesday showing off his dance moves during an impromptu enrichment session inside the roomy gorilla habitat.
"Enrichment" is defined by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums as a process "to ensure that the behavioral and physical needs of an animal are being met by providing opportunities for species-appropriate actions and choices," according to the Dallas Zoo's Primate Keeper Ashley Orr.
Orr said Zola's form of play indicates he feels content and comfortable in his environment, and pointed out there was no music playing when the video was taken. "[T]here was no break-dance music playing in the building, we promise," she said.
Zola apparently has a history of hip dance moves, appearing in a viral video years ago when he resided at the Calgary Zoo in 2011. There, 9-year-old Zola showed off his quick feet and lighthearted personality, while again, dancing only to tune in his head.
While anatomically too dense to swim, according to Orr, wild gorillas have been observed entering bodies of water to cross to the other side, and even using long sticks to gauge how deep the water is before they enter.
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Sara Gonzales is the host of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”
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