The incident occurred around 4:20pm and sent visitors scrambling away from the enclosure as staff members quickly arrived to rope off the area. No injuries have been reported, and the gorilla remained safely inside the habitat.
Witnesses described the sound as a “deep thud” followed by an audible crack. Photos shared online show spider-webbing damage to the inner layer of the glass. One visitor who posted about the event said the gorilla “sprinted, jumped, and broke the glass with its elbows.” According to several onlookers, the animal immediately retreated after the impact, and zookeepers moved guests back while assessing the damage.
Zoo officials have not yet issued an official statement about the event or the specific animal involved, but online commenters familiar with the troop identified the gorilla as “Denny,” an 11-year-old male who resides in what the zoo refers to as its bachelor group. Denny and his older brother, Ekuba, are two of the remaining males in the exhibit following recent troop changes that may have unsettled the social structure.
Witnesses described the sound as a “deep thud” followed by an audible crack. Photos shared online show spider-webbing damage to the inner layer of the glass. One visitor who posted about the event said the gorilla “sprinted, jumped, and broke the glass with its elbows.” According to several onlookers, the animal immediately retreated after the impact, and zookeepers moved guests back while assessing the damage.
Zoo officials have not yet issued an official statement about the event or the specific animal involved, but online commenters familiar with the troop identified the gorilla as “Denny,” an 11-year-old male who resides in what the zoo refers to as its bachelor group. Denny and his older brother, Ekuba, are two of the remaining males in the exhibit following recent troop changes that may have unsettled the social structure.
In August 2025, the zoo announced that another male gorilla, Maka, had died unexpectedly during a veterinary procedure. Maka had been a companion and stabilizing figure within the troop. His loss, combined with the recent relocation of other gorillas for breeding programs at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, has reportedly left the younger males adjusting to new dynamics. Some longtime visitors and volunteers speculated that Saturday's event could have been a burst of dominance behavior or frustration linked to those recent changes.
This is not the first time a San Diego Zoo gorilla has cracked its exhibit glass. In 2020, another gorilla incident drew national attention when a male charged the barrier during a social dispute, shattering an internal layer of the enclosure’s laminated glass. Zoo officials later explained that the windows are built with multiple layers designed to absorb such impacts without breaching the habitat. The cracked section was replaced before the area reopened. Even earlier, in the 1980s, the zoo became famous for its “Hairy Houdini,” Ken Allen, a Bornean orangutan who repeatedly escaped his enclosure by dismantling bolts and barriers, capturing headlines around the world.
Video of Sunday’s incident has not yet surfaced publicly, though multiple witnesses say several visitors were recording at the time. Photos taken shortly after show police officers and staff inspecting the enclosure as guests looked on. The gorilla exhibit, one of the zoo’s most visited areas, remained partially closed while teams assessed the damage and secured the viewing zone.
For many longtime zoo-goers, the event reignited debate about animal behavior in captivity and the emotional complexity of great apes. Some witnesses suggested that the gorilla appeared agitated before the charge, while others insisted it was part of the animal’s usual energetic play. Experts note that young male gorillas, particularly those in bachelor groups, often exhibit bursts of strength and mock-charge behaviors as they mature.
The San Diego Zoo, home to one of the most advanced primate programs in the country, has long emphasized enrichment activities and expansive habitats to support gorilla welfare. The troop’s current setup includes shaded climbing structures, open air space, and glass viewing panels designed for close but safe observation. Zoo staff are expected to inspect all panes and reinforce the enclosure before reopening the viewing area to guests.
No animals or humans were harmed in the incident, and the gorilla involved reportedly remained calm after the impact. Still, for those who witnessed it, the moment was a startling reminder of the incredible strength of the species. As one visitor posted afterward, “Everyone was frozen - the sound, the power, it was unreal.”
San Diego Zoo representatives are expected to release an update once the investigation and repairs are complete.
This is not the first time a San Diego Zoo gorilla has cracked its exhibit glass. In 2020, another gorilla incident drew national attention when a male charged the barrier during a social dispute, shattering an internal layer of the enclosure’s laminated glass. Zoo officials later explained that the windows are built with multiple layers designed to absorb such impacts without breaching the habitat. The cracked section was replaced before the area reopened. Even earlier, in the 1980s, the zoo became famous for its “Hairy Houdini,” Ken Allen, a Bornean orangutan who repeatedly escaped his enclosure by dismantling bolts and barriers, capturing headlines around the world.
Video of Sunday’s incident has not yet surfaced publicly, though multiple witnesses say several visitors were recording at the time. Photos taken shortly after show police officers and staff inspecting the enclosure as guests looked on. The gorilla exhibit, one of the zoo’s most visited areas, remained partially closed while teams assessed the damage and secured the viewing zone.
For many longtime zoo-goers, the event reignited debate about animal behavior in captivity and the emotional complexity of great apes. Some witnesses suggested that the gorilla appeared agitated before the charge, while others insisted it was part of the animal’s usual energetic play. Experts note that young male gorillas, particularly those in bachelor groups, often exhibit bursts of strength and mock-charge behaviors as they mature.
The San Diego Zoo, home to one of the most advanced primate programs in the country, has long emphasized enrichment activities and expansive habitats to support gorilla welfare. The troop’s current setup includes shaded climbing structures, open air space, and glass viewing panels designed for close but safe observation. Zoo staff are expected to inspect all panes and reinforce the enclosure before reopening the viewing area to guests.
No animals or humans were harmed in the incident, and the gorilla involved reportedly remained calm after the impact. Still, for those who witnessed it, the moment was a startling reminder of the incredible strength of the species. As one visitor posted afterward, “Everyone was frozen - the sound, the power, it was unreal.”
San Diego Zoo representatives are expected to release an update once the investigation and repairs are complete.
If you were at the Zoo during the event and captured clear video or photos, please send tips to info@sandiegoville.com.
Originally published on October 11, 2025.
Originally published on October 11, 2025.
