Breakdancing Gorilla Enjoys Pool Behind-the-Scenes

Watch Zola gorilla demonstrate play behaviors as he splashes and dances during a swimming pool enrichment session off habitat, behind-the-scenes.
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Catch a sneak peak of Zola showing off his dance moves in a behind-the-scenes video shot by zookeeper Ashley Orr. You may remember Zola when he was a youngster from the viral video of him breakdancing at The Calgary Zoo, but there’s a lot more to this behavior than you may think.
Enrichment helps enhance the environment and lives of animals, like Zola, by providing them with mental and physical stimulation to increase natural behaviors. Enrichment can take many forms, but for this spunky great ape, it means playing and spinning in his favorite blue pool while off habitat!
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Engaging People & Saving Wildlife

[@khunopie9159]

And he's dancing like he's never danced before!

[@marysutton434]

LOL

[@ozairyahya3438]

Hilarious

[@PanzerShrek94]

Because he's a maniac?

[@ernesttrosman]

@@PanzerShrek94 For sure!

[@Jrski14]

She's a maniac, maniac on the pool

[@JCDenton648]

i always wondered how a washing machine works

[@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL]

JCDenton Good one!😂😂😂😂

[@barbarawashington844]

JCDenton ...and know we know. ;^)

[@hahanna4197]

JCDenton OMG IM FREAKIN CRACKING UP RIGHT NOW BWUHAHAHAHHAHA 😂😂🤣🤣

[@stephanygarcia3588]

Haha lmao me too I can’t stop laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Curiousclouddd]

JCDenton lol

[@Chris-pt6hh]

AND SHES A MAAAANIAC MAAAANIAC ON THE FLOOR

[@theSpaceMike]

IN THE POOL ;)

[@NobodySpecial512]

Splashdance!

[@Creationsofmyown]

Now i have the Eric Speed version stuck in my head... thanks

[@fazefarcry]

That’s a silverback

[@patriafernandez]

Hey you took that from my mind just now,🤕😁

[@GUX641]

My reaction when I don't have to go work tomorrow

[@antixingyunn628]

xavier guzman mine two

[@Weebish_Dragon]

When all non essential jobs are cancelled. *When you realize you have no income*

[@Nutty151]

If the day off is paid: :) If the day off is unpaid: :(

[@darthbane2669]

Man I've danced like that when I got a day off lol

[@AbsoluteTruth-vm1zb]

Relatable

[@scarymsmary]

How did you get footage of my husband in our pool?

[@atlslimeball5805]

Mary Witcher 💀

[@Jatorri]

Mary Witcher i cant stop laughing

[@jeaniee.6283]

lmao

[@Spinie_Haca99]

:DDDDDDDDD

[@highlanderjeff2720]

He is kinda built as well as graceful. Good catch :D

[@cmm8217]

I can't believe this is real

[@TieDyeVikki]

I know, it almost doesn't look real, does it? LOL

[@poppykok5]

No matter how many times I watch this (many MANY times) it NEVER fails to make my Heart explode with HAPPINESS...Such an extraordinary scene to witness...especially seeing Zola's BIG open mouth laugh as he twirls around...pure joy...

[@TieDyeVikki]

I know, same here! LOL. :))

[@lizzyh458]

Haha same here. I only recentely noticed his open mouth, full of joy. "It's amazing" like the woman filming says.

[@stephaniehilbern]

❤❤❤❤❤this melts my heart!!!! Captivity at its finest ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@airgorillaflights]

me too :)

[@jaxxyjaxxyjax]

A fantastic display of pure joy and happiness!

[@miguelbranquinho7235]

It's super majestic.

[@TranceGurl20]

And they say animals can't feel oh please 🙄

[@semafreak]

@@TranceGurl20 and who exactly said that?

[@chuckbrown5484]

Fake

[@Jon.Edgar.Martin]

The literal definition of "Dance like no one's watching." ❤

[@l.b.2949]

Such graceful and elegant dance moves!

[@fenteflushkinfentefhluhovi7178]

Никогда горилу в положительных эмоций не видел до этого

[@astrobil2129]

Life Could Be Dream

[@katboi7140]

​@astrobil2129 *Gorilla could be dancer.* - Me

[@paulagola2307]

Omg he's got moves❤️

[@DavidLS1]

“Dance like no one is watching, love like you've never been hurt; sing like no one is listening, and live like it's heaven on earth.”

[@stephaniehilbern]

Ohhhh❤❤❤❤so true my friend❤❤❤so true!

[@Timothy_toenail_jr]

That's a great motto on how to live life. 🤓

[@m_dawood]

All good except for the "sing like no one is listening" 😂 .. cuz that includes torture to other 👂

[@mechanicrainbow2709]

​@@Timothy_toenail_jr🤓☝️

[@M.C.P.]

​@@m_dawood it depends of your singing tho! 😂

[@OswaldMarcRogers]

I wanna thank King of Skill for letting me know this wholesome video exists

[@ss_whole]

You spin me right round baby............right round.

[@ckotcher1]

He’s a maniac! Manic on the floor 🦍❤️😂 How could you NOT love this?!

[@johnshannon]

You should play "Maniac" in the background.

[@johnshannon]

didn't see Chris' message below..lol

[@user-lq5vi1ey8u]

John Shannon quickly done it whilst at work check my channel out lol 😂

[@topenddean]

Exactly what I thought the moment he started spinning!!! LOL!!!

[@movingforward9555]

My god! My same thought. Ha ha

[@Matt_Mosley1983]

I was thinking _"WHAT A FEELING!"_ :-)

[@PaulApollo]

Playing this in 2x speed makes this even funnier 😂

[@enzocignetti6359]

Can you imagine what you’d think if you were in the wild and saw a gorilla dancing in some water like this

[@youtubesucks1821]

I wouldn't stick around to see it finish, that's for sure

[@EdwinKingBooSonic]

Brent/King of Skill be like 😂

[@lauriefrancisco1084]

Such joy! Such magnificence! Anyone who can’t see the obvious similarity in our expression has got blinders on! I’m so glad you caught this and shared it with the world!

[@fsheee3458]

I never thought an animal could dance so beautifully 😌🥰❤️

[@cockeyedoptimista]

I wonder what Barishnikov thinks.

[@rebelsimone-]

We are all animals. If you see gorillas videos you'll notice they are pretty alike us.

[@Nancyw823]

What a beautiful demonstration of pure joy

[@danellboy5757]

Wow, those turns were graceful ❤

[@csokcsik8499]

why does this video always makes me cry? I’m so happy for him and I wanna cuddle him

[@teresahardy5895]

Beautifully said.

[@jamesbcker9494]

@@teresahardy5895 shhh you you did….

[@ThatguyJoshman]

he'd tear you apart

[@JazzyPantsINC]

King of Skill vibes anyone?

[@Batman-jg7bb]

pff, who needs a fidget spinner when u have a gorilla spinner

[@bigdiezl]

Batman 😂😂😂🙌🏻

[@zeldasmith6154]

He's wonderful and they are great to provide him with a pool.

[@pannalover326]

This is my new "go to for a smile" video! Everybody should spin in a giant tub now and then. The world would be a happier place.

[@catherineaiello7136]

I laughed so hard the first time I saw this years ago. It never gets old.

[@chickennuggets5549]

Jesus Christ loves you ❤ John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[@MH-pz8wf]

Let him dance - what a joy to behold the pure joy in him

[@philholmes4183]

What a brilliant performance and to see this gorilla so happy ,thank you all for this upload ,and please keep up the incredible work you all do, god bless you for all your help

[@joelsonsabado9206]

You can see him smiling having fun lol

[@TopTributeBands-N-Stuff]

A BIG Thank You for everything ie: Foremost for helping Zola play / enjoy his life a bit and for sharing it with all of us. In return I will do my best to spotlight and share Zola and your zoo with everyone I can...

[@eggyeck5750]

Truly a masterpiece I have cried over 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times watching this

[@DallasZooTube]

Same.

[@googleisskynet7312]

You both need psychological help.

[@alessbritish228]

@@googleisskynet7312 bruh

[@stephaniehilbern]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ME TOOOOOO!

[@M.C.P.]

​@@googleisskynet7312 and you need to connect with your emotions, the psychologist actually serves you more.

[@janelowe524]

He’s having a great time God-bless him

[@mikewatts1533]

This video just makes you smile. A candid look behind the curtain. Thank you for sharing this.

[@chickennuggets5549]

Jesus Christ loves you ❤ John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[@marymccluer1630]

He was definitely enjoying the moment!

[@angelomordini6779]

Okay but the last couple of spins were actually super elegant

[@cockeyedoptimista]

He knows how to use his bo-dee.

[@paross2]

This is me in the shower every morning.

[@user-kn1hr9xc3r]

So you morph into a gorilla, fill up a pool and start spinning around because you don't know the difference between a shower and a pool? #Relatable

[@ranchhandrandy3213]

Same 😆

[@iknowheis]

I love this happy guy!

[@jillyd2807]

Wow, he’s having so much fun 😁

[@LittleFatFeet68]

That’s the look of pure joy💖

[@Hyde-pw3kl]

So nice to see him enjoy himself. Such a free spirit. Imagine if he is free in the wild. That wld b a sight to behold.

[@Myndir]

Too dangerous. He could eat someone.

[@st0ryt3ll3r8]

@@Myndirgorillas don’t eat meat. Termites at most. Plus, most would rather display and scare you off than actually fight you.

[@azmanabas8425]

In the wild.. The poacher might kill him after the dance

[@AhtuMondello]

In the wild, he might get killed by wild things

[@damnyejustgotbewitchedbyth2802]

@Myndir gorillaz are vegan

[@disprofundis3477]

That's the most fun I have seen someone ever had.

[@travellerrana9978]

Secret behind youth and vigor !

[@sutharsany6989]

dancing better than most of human beings

[@MySkinnydip]

That is for sure!

[@NM-apache]

Very beautiful. I love he's having fun! Thanks for sharing this.

[@temmy9]

a moment of perfect joy

[@floridagirl330]

He is having so much joy right then!

[@titsarmageddon]

He's just so into the dancing 😂💜👍

[@Texocracy]

This is more powerfully expressive than 95% of manmade choreography including ballet. This fluidity of motion and emotion is the goal all of our kinetic arts are trying to achieve.

[@blueabattoir]

We should be funding this gorilla to go on tour.

[@googleisskynet7312]

Umm...what? lol

[@ligma212]

​​@@googleisskynet7312bro sees a gorilla spinning around and is like "this is more impressive than any other display of mammalian athleticism ever". People when they see something they find cool they always have the most over the top response ever and geek out so hard their objectivity goes away lmao. Like I know some things are cool but there's a line between appreciation and simping 😂

[@cockeyedoptimista]

​@@googleisskynet7312 Look up kinetic. It just means movement.

[@cockeyedoptimista]

​@@ligma212 They said expressive, not impressive. And it's an interesting point; valid, in my opinion. It's arguable. I mean, including all ballet & such Is over the top, but ballet isn't really Expressive emotionally. Maybe modern dance..

[@missyrooh7771]

This video has brought me so much joy, smiles and laughter

[@annieknight5779]

That's how to enjoy life!

[@TheEdgeoftheWild]

This is just awesome! 🤠 that’s the kind of playful spirit and joy of the moment we hope everyone can experience! 🦍🦍

[@DJR-NZ]

So much happiness! :)

[@thacow7603]

*Bro living his moment of happiness*

[@hectorbartlett567]

They truly fascinate me ...

[@Alfakkin]

it really look like the movie...omg...he is beautiful

[@carolmcswain2206]

That is one happy gorilla! So fun to watch!❤😂

[@sandrabaker5298]

OMGOSH! That sweet baby! Thank you for sharing this joyous video!❤❤

[@rosemartinez1116]

Awe!! I've never seen such a happy happy gorilla like this!! Love it!! May you always be happy!!!

[@liamgross7217]

He’s having so much fun. . What I thought about on the 3rd play is how much force he would be generating. He’s so powerful. What a wonderful and magnificent being.

[@shelbell7327]

I replayed it so many times I thought I emptied the pool!

[@WeepingWidow73]

Love it. In two weeks I hope I get to see this amazing dancer.

[@renderzaulia1218]

Hip Hop Dancer : "WRITE THAT DOWN! WRITE THAT DOWN!!"

[@community1949]

Man he is similar to humans. What a fun time this guy is having!!!!

[@cockeyedoptimista]

He needs a dance partner though.

[@Toywithme200]

so cute! he's really having fun!

[@Knuckles8864]

King of Skill when he makes monkey noises

[@valeforedark]

He looks so happy

[@varkojay691]

Pure joy

[@NathanielXVII]

KONG TRYING TO FIND GODZILLA IN THE WATER

[@scorpiio1665]

Awh i remember when I used to enjoy baths like this.

[@dodgersdoon1130]

this makes me smile evertime.

[@chrisreynolds3351]

Joy in it´s purest form. This needs setting to music.

[@MySkinnydip]

It usually is but on different channels. Usually the song “Maniac” I think that person’s channel has over a million views now!

[@ninaanne1877]

Great work! Looks so fun!

[@JamesHarris-]

Have fun, go wild, rock out! :-)

[@dianesorrento9473]

My BELOVED GORILLAS I LOVE and RESPECT them He is very talented love his moves .

[@imbk245]

Joy of life far exceeds than that of material ones. Thank you for making my day.

[@mr.badenglishspeaker6605]

He's having a lot of fun

[@tuexss]

where is the extra long edition? this video ends too early.

[@miky8788]

he's make me happy.. best video on yt

[@user-by6sz5ev1k]

Amazing indeed

[@rubyruby6358]

Love him!

[@lisaj2269]

So adorable and funny!!

[@deguzmanjrrobertom]

Its like flash dance. What a feeling.

[@richrcwx1685]

What joy 😂

[@sunshiny_days.]

How fun is he!! ❤️

[@manolop.8372]

Oh my God, this guy is surely very entertaining. He deserves the whole banana tree. Wonderful fellow. 😂 😁😍

[@WiseGuy5674]

“He’s a maniac, MANIAC on the floor..and he’s dancing like he’s never danced before!!!”😎

[@annescholten9313]

That's pure JOY!!!❤

[@spicy110]

this is going to be memed to death!!

[@fwsimon110]

spicy110 it already has. it already has.

[@Panda-ok1yk]

Yes

[@kradambofan]

That is hilarious!

[@Wifgargfhaurh]

His feet are light and nimble. He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, the judge. He is dancing, dancing. He says that he will never die.

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

Thirty seconds of pure joy

[@butterflyperson1378]

It's so tragic that they are almost extinct. You should post a link to how people can help.

[@DallasZooTube]

Recycling cell phones is a huge help! And many zoos across the country collect them. Learn how donating your old cell phone can help save this remarkable species in the wild: www.dallaszoo.com/wildlife-conservation/recycling-electronics-at-the-dallas-zoo/

[@wildlilith]

my cell phone has been used since 2012. does it help?

[@BvousBrainSystems]

All my phones in the past 4 years have been second-hand, I think that's as good as you can do. And then, yes, recycle their dead carcasses.

[@matedalirik14]

Its a sad tru :(

[@robertskitch]

From the zoo's blog: "support our conservation partners in the field, like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), that help gorillas in the wild" zoohoo.dallaszoo.com/2017/06/20/gorilla-groovin-promoting-play-through-enrichment/

[@keelieak]

They way he shakes that head (? Or it's almost like he's spotting as he turns-like a real dancer!!), with that big old smile, swinging those arms around.....my cheeks hurt from smiling so huge while watching this on repeat! I tried to watch it and keep a straight face, just to see, and I could NOT do it! So delightful! :)

[@Ericah81]

His face has the look of bliss..😂

[@stormypinkness4030]

I love his crazy dancing face.

[@lcnessie15]

Fantastic!

[@JJ-yv7kt]

Looks far more like ballet to me! He's clearly having the time of his life!

[@cockeyedoptimista]

He and Patrick Swayze.

[@user-dp1kj4mk2e]

so cute

[@Rockovissi]

One of the greatest things I've ever seen.