A woman just learned not to laugh too loudly at a male gorilla at a Chicago zoo.
TikTok user Zachary (@zachary_francisco) posted an interaction with a gorilla at a Chicago zoo. In it, a woman clearly chuckles at the great ape, who seemingly strikes at the durable glass in response. Then, the gorilla moves and burrows away in the enclosure.
The video, which has garnered 2.2 million views since Tuesday, reflected a lighthearted moment from a visit to Lincoln Park Zoo. However, commenters pointed out how potentially unethical it was to keep the gorilla in a zoo for its entire life.
Which Gorilla Is Zachary and His Group Interacting With?
There are multiple zoos in Chicago, with two of the largest being the Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Lincoln Park Zoo. In Zachary’s video, it was unclear which zoo he visited or was referring to. This led many to speculate it was either the Brookfield Zoo or the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Brookfield Zoo technically has three male gorillas. They welcomed two new gorillas, named Shango and Barney, to a brand new exhibit in May. Transferred from the Miami zoo, these brothers currently reside at the James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropic Forests exhibit. This exhibit is separated from the multi-generational group. The other Western Lowland Gorilla, Jontu, is housed with five females. Notably, commenters posted photos of Shango, stating they, too, had visited gorillas in Chicago.
However, the exhibit in question matches one at the Lincoln Park Zoo, located within Verdant Park. Lincoln Park also has a bachelor troop, which houses three male gorillas: Umande, Amare, and Mosi. It’s likely that the gorilla that Zachary filmed was one of this location’s, based on the amenities offered.
Why Would the Gorilla Bang on the Glass?
According to some commenters, the gorillas at Lincoln Park, Brookfield Zoo, and other zoos “hate pictures.” They often turn away from the glass to avoid being seen.
It’s more likely that the gorillas hate the sounds coming from behind the glass rather than the pictures themselves.
With regard to its new bachelor troop, the Brookfield Zoo Chicago stated, “Because gorillas — and particularly male gorillas — are very protective of their space, it’s important to be respectful of them when you visit. Remember, they are just moving in, and this is a big change for them! Just like it takes us time to adjust after a transition, the gorillas are still learning what it’s like to live in their new habitats. To be respectful of the gorillas’ territory at the Zoo, avoid slamming or tapping on the glass, and try to move around the space in a quiet and calm manner.”
Similarly, many male bachelor troops need space in their environments. While guests at Lincoln Park were not tapping on the glass, the noise from outside may have bothered the gorilla. This may have led him to tap on the glass and run further into the enclosure.
The Lincoln Park Zoo has also issued warnings against disturbing exhibits. One states, “Do not feed animals, toss or throw items at animals or into habitats, shout at animals, or tap/bang on glass enclosures.”
Why Are Viewers Saying That Zoos Are ‘Cruel’?
Some viewers shared why they would never consider going to a zoo in the comments section.
“I don’t visit the zoos, it’s cruel,” said one viewer.
Another added, “This made me sad.”
People have been debating about the ethics of zoos or menageries since their inception. Animals are said to have unhappy lives in enclosures, as they’re significantly smaller than the environments they would normally grow up in.
But one commenter added an interesting point. “Before anyone starts complaining; majority of these animals were either born in zoos and lack the basic instincts they’d need to survive in the wild or have been injured and rescued and rehabilitated but are unreleasable,” they wrote. “Both Lincoln Park and Brookfield Zoo are AZA accredited and participate in the Species Survival Program which helps to breed populations of critically endangered animals to re-release into the wild and re-establish populations.”
Lincoln Park Zoo is Association of Zoos and Aquariums-certified, an achievement noted on its webpage. It also cooperates with other zoos in the Species Survival Plan.
AllHipHop reached out to Lincoln Park Zoo’s media team and Zachary for comment. We will update this story if either party responds.
Update Jan. 26, 2026: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified which zoo housed the gorilla. This has been corrected: The habitat in question matches the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
@zachary_francisco We were looking at him eating for a while and I guess he got tired of us saying aw how cute LMAOOOO #chicago #gorilla #lincolnparkzoo #madaf #backhand ♬ original sound – Zach