Teenage gorilla’s addiction to cell phones prompts zoo to ban visitors from showing videos
A 13-year-old gorilla in Toronto, Canada has become so obsessed with cell phones that the zoo has banned visitors from showing him videos.
Keepers said that teenage gorilla Nassir is so fixated on the devices after being shown short clips by customers that it has affected his relationship with his family.
They are pleading with visitors not to show him any more video footage and have put up signs to warn them of the harm they are doing.
Maria Franke, Toronto Zoo’s director of wildlife conservation and welfare, said Nassir “was just so enthralled with gadgets and phones and the videos” he was becoming distracted and not interacting with other gorillas.
According to zoo staff, Nassir is behaving like a teenager and is “fascinated by videos” and would rather look at a screen than interact with customers – much to the horror of zoo staff.
Hollie Ross, a behavioural husbandry supervisor at the zoo, added: “Nassir is truly the epitome of a teenager, fascinated by videos and screen time would dominate his life if he had his way.
“Nassir, in particular, was really interested in seeing different videos. I think, mostly, he was seeing videos of other animals, but I think what is really important is that he’s able to just hang out with his brother and be a gorilla.
“And when our guests come to the zoo, we want them to be able to see gorillas in a very natural state, and what they would be doing naturally – to sort of connect with them on that level,” she added.
Newly posted signs requested visitors to stop showing the animals any videos or photos “as some content can be upsetting and affect their relationships and behaviour with their family.”
News of Nassir’s phone addiction came after a Chicago zoo was forced to install a rope line a few feet away from the glass partition between visitors and the animals.
It came after experts noted that apes distracted by phones had begun to show behavioural changes – which could have negative consequences.
In San Diego last year, a monkey was seen attempting to use a phone after it was dropped into his enclosure.
– Mirror UK
