A gorilla at the San Diego Zoo startled visitors when it broke through the protective glass in its enclosure on Saturday, according to zoo officials. 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 the public in the gorilla forest habitat. Another gorilla was present during the event.
Zoo representatives confirmed that Denny sustained no injuries and both gorillas were being monitored behind the scenes until the compromised panel was replaced. Officials emphasized that only a single layer of the multi-layered glass was damaged, and no guests or staff were harmed.
Witness Katya Sutil described the moment as jarring. “We were looking down at our phones and didn’t notice he had taken a running start, jumped, and launched into the glass,” she said. “He hit it with his elbow or forearm directly in front of my face. I was so jolted I fell back a few feet. When I looked up, I saw the gorilla staring at me, making eye contact, then a giant crack—6 feet long.”
Sutil added that the two gorillas appeared to be interacting intensely, with one charging the other before disappearing and repeating the behavior. The zoo has not yet provided a timeline for when the enclosure will reopen.
Western lowland gorillas, like Denny, are classified as critically endangered. The San Diego Zoo participates in conservation efforts to protect the species and their Central African habitats.