When it comes to gorillas, most people's first impression is strong or even terrifying.
You can even think of the classic movie character "King Kong".
It is estimated that not many people dare to contact the gorillas in person.
However, at the Detroit Zoo in the United States in 1990, a truck driver faced a cry for help from a drowning gorilla, and out of human kindness, he bravely crossed the fence of the park and saved the drowning gorilla.
Gorilla Jo-Jo
One day in 1990, Rick Swope, a 32-year-old truck driver, took his wife and three children to the Detroit Zoo to see gorillas.
Unexpectedly, they witnessed the fierce battle between two male gorillas.
One of the two gorillas, named Jo-Jo, was less aggressive, tried to escape the fight, and was forced into a ditch.
The poor gorilla quickly drowned, and Jo-Jo waved his pitiful arms and tried to call around for help, but there was no response.
Rick, who was watching, stared intently at the drowning orangutan, and for a moment he seemed to be able to see the pleading in the gorilla's eyes.
The kindness in Rick's heart made him unable to bear his own inaction. He said afterwards that he didn't want to be a hero, but if he didn't do anything that day, he would definitely slap himself when he got home.
Thinking of this, Rick jumped up, over the surrounding fence, and into the muddy, dark and dirty ditch.
At this time, the surrounding tourists also began to assist him in the rescue.
However, the staff of the park rescued by this organization was indifferent and kept shouting at him to evacuate.
Rick ignored the staff. Under the guidance of the surrounding tourists, he began to grope around the ditch, looking for the drowning gorilla.
The kung fu paid off, and under the guidance of the tourists, although the water was very dirty and he couldn't see anything at all, he still became a dog and found the gorilla.
By this time, the gorilla was already very weak, but there were still signs of life.
Jo-Jo fell weakly into Rick's arms and looked at Rick affectionately, as if to say thank you.
Rick later recalled that in that moment he could feel the orangutan understand that he had been saved.
Rick was very careful, putting Jo-Jo on the shore and blocking him with a rope so that he wouldn't slip into the water again.
Only then did he realize that the gorillas around him were all staring at him, grinning at him, and he realized how much danger he was taking, so he quickly withdrew.
According to the staff of the park later, Jo-Jo had a tragic life, his mother was killed by poachers when he was very young, and he was sent to the park.
Praise from Jenny Goodall
Rick's selfless feat quickly drew national praise, and he drew in the attention of Jenny Goodall, a prominent primatologist who devoted her life to the study and protection of gorillas.
The famous Jenny Goodall, I believe everyone has learned it in textbooks.
Jenny Goodall specifically mentioned Rick's feat in her speech.
Jenny Goodall's director specifically asked Rick, "What you're doing is very brave, and you surely know it's a very dangerous thing, what motivates you to do it?" ”
And Rick's answer was moving.
Rick said: "I happened to see his eyes, I seemed to see a human eye, and the message was very obvious, he seemed to be asking the people around him, why didn't anyone help me?" ”