A Female Gorilla Rescues an Unconscious Child THE DAUGHTER OF SUNLIGHT AND THE LITTLE BOY
Almost everyone has heard the story of Harambe, the 17-year-old male silverback gorilla shot and killed by his handlers last year after grabbing a 3-year old boy who fell into his enclosure. This was one of many hotly contended issues of 2016, and pundits are divided on whether the killing was justified or not. Some argue that Harambe was trying to protect the child, while others say he was displaying signs of imminent aggression, dragging the child along concrete and threatening his safety.
gently on the ground, where zookeepers rushed in to retrieve him. She not only ostensibly saved the boy, but she did it with her own 17-month-old baby gorilla clinging to her back the entire time. Throughout the incident, zookeepers sprayed water over the exhibit to discourage the other gorillas from approaching Binti and the boy. Officials aren’t sure how the boy managed to climb over the 4-foot fence, but it’s clear he wrested control from his mother and ran far ahead of her. The boy was treated in a hospital and made a full recovery.
It’s impossible to say definitively which side is correct. But that sad story harkens back to 20 years earlier when a different gorilla aided in the rescue of a critically injured toddler. And it has a much happier ending. On August 17, 1996, a 3-year-old boy climbed the fence of a gorilla enclosure at Brookfield Zoo, fell 18 feet, and was knocked unconscious by the resulting head injury. Binti Jua, which means “Daughter of Sunlight” in Swahili, a 7-year-old female gorilla and one of seven gorillas in the enclosure, immediately rushed over to the boy and scooped him up, cradling him gently in her arms.
Needless to say, Binti Jua received a lot of media attention in the coming weeks. Camera crews from places as far-flung as Australia showed up to get footage of the maternalistic gorilla relaxing in her enclosure. Thousands of individuals sent in requests to “adopt” her. According to the Chicago Tribune, one local grocer even offered 25 pounds of free bananas. Nowadays, you can still see the now 29-year- old gorilla lounging in her enclosure, though she hasn’t yet had to spring into action to rescue another tyke.
Avoiding the other curious primates, she quickly brought the child to a door in the enclosure and placed him
WALKING FOR A CAUSE The 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s
As an elder care firm, Alzheimer’s and dementia are issues we have to confront daily. We are dedicated to helping families who are affected by these conditions, and we do everything we can to raise awareness and promote research. For a number of years, we’ve sponsored the Brighton Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and this year is no different. We’re excited to take part in this great cause, and we hope you’ll join us in our mission. The Walk will take place on September 30 this year, and we’ll be focused on fundraising in the months leading up to the event. We’re hosting a kickoff party on July 20 at Downtown Main in Brighton from 6–9 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Walk, and we’ll even have a top-secret celebrity bartender mixing drinks! We’re lucky enough to be on the committee for the Walk, which gives us the chance to personally see the amazing efforts of our community.
We help families navigate the long-term care journey every day, so we encounter the difficulties of Alzheimer’s firsthand. For us, it’s a privilege to be able to contribute our time, money, and effort to such a worthy cause. Last year, The Elder Care Crew was the top-donating team for the walk, and we hope to do even better in 2017. Come join us for our kickoff party to have some fun for a good cause. If you want to contribute to our donation page, walk alongside us, or volunteer your time, give us a call at 888-390-4360. We’re grateful for whatever contribution you can make and want to thank everyone who donates in whatever way they can. Together, we can make a difference. Let’s make 2017 the best year yet for the Brighton edition of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
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