That's my girl with the gorilla... but she's totally safe, says father

Conservationist Damian Aspinall has made public amazing video of his daughter Tansy as a baby with a 300lb playmate at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent... to prove gorillas are friendly.

Many will be deeply moved by the sight of a toddler beating her chest with tiny fists while a 300lb gorilla lounges alongside her, eating a kiwi fruit.

Others, however, will be horrified. More than once, the gorilla gathers the girl in her arms, carrying her off as she would one of her young.

Her father, Damian, has now decided to release the family film via The Mail on Sunday and is making it available on YouTube.

Daily Mail

reply to post by ollncasino




So what's your opinion on it?
I haven't seen you say whether you like or dislike it?

too risky by half. in one moment of aggression the gorilla could easily kill the child. however well intentioned the father is, i find his faith in the gentle nature of these animals not something to be tested on a small child.

Originally posted by blupblup
So what's your opinion on it?
I haven't seen you say whether you like or dislike it?

Well, Gorillas are intelligent and gentle animals. If you are going to trust your child with a wild animal, then you could do a lot worse than a gorilla.

On the other hand, would you trust a small child with a domestic dog?

I wouldn't.

EPIC PARENT FAIL

To risky for me too. What happens when they don't want to give the child back, or not allow her to leave. Also the novelty may wear off for them.

reply to post by ollncasino




Well he obviously knows what he's doing and has raised many Gorillas and been around them long enough to know and it's his kid... so I guess he is the only one who matters and he knows best.


I think the tone and wording of the Daily Mail "piece" is very offensive and they are clearly attacking him.
I can't find this story anywhere else really.... is it newsworthy?

Who knows.

As for your dog comment, most people do trust their dog around their children... if your dog was a violent breed and prone (or at least perceived to be prone) to attacks then I guess people would have to be more careful, but most domestic animals and clearly these Gorillas are pretty good with young and have no problems whatsoever being around them and being loving and caring of them.

reply to post by ollncasino


I am thankful that the child is safe. I personally would never allow my child to play with a gorilla. It just does not seem safe to me.

No different than with playing with a dog that could chew the kid's head off if it wished.
The parent is responsible for whatever happens.

tbh it feel safer letting my kid into a bunch of gorillas, rather then a dog... There is quite a IQ difference, and wether we like it or not, they are empathic beings... This reminds me of that kid that fell down into the gorilla "den" in a Zoo, were the alpha gorilla protected her from the other gorillas, or atleast making sure he was the only that was close to her, he even let a adult male come down and get the kid. Think the gorilla was called Samson, might be wrong.

I find this profoundly touching and quite beautiful.

People will trust their children with dogs and cats (both carnivores regardless domestication) whereas gentle, intelligent, social, primarily vegetarian apes are considered dangerous?

I get it that people are scared of what they don't know.
Please remember, the motto of this board is "Deny Ignorance"

Get to know the apes. Do some learning about primateology.
For instance, how's your memory compared to a chimpanzee?


Play the Memory Game yourself HERE

Gorrilas are good natured and sociable creatures if you understand how to interact with them. Such interaction for scientific study by responsible adults is fine, and has returned invaluable results in our understanding of these amazing animals.

Encouraging children to play with them like this though is idiotic in my opinion. You should never let children this young play with animals, be it gorillas or anything else, including domestic dogs. That gorrila could crush the child's skull or snap her neck in a second if for some reason it became aggressive.

reply to post by ollncasino


Thanks for the video and story,

Definitely further proof that not all humans are bad.

Reminds me of My Ishmael.

I think this is perfectly fine.

Can someone provide evidence that Gorillas who are not abused by humans and are not being threatened have ever randomly attacked?

Chimpanzees definitely. If this was a chimp I would say the father is a fool, but a Gorilla is very different in the way it behaves.

For my money that kid was safer with a known well treated gorilla than a large domestic dog or even an unknown human.

For those of you who think he has failed as a father please keep in mind nothing happened.

One odd thing I did a google search on Gorilla attacks. There are instances of captive silverbacks attacking and injuring people! These guys could with very little effort rip your flipping arms off and beat you to death with them. Why were there only injuries? And this was no silverback dominant male, I couldn't find any evidence of a female attacking anyone who wasn't threatening her or her babies ever.

I say that kid was safer with that gorilla than strapped in a car seat on a major freeway but will gladly change my mind if anyone can provide evidence that an unprovoked female gorilla will attack anything.

I am sure he would not leave his daughter with a gorilla if he did not trust the animal. Probably safer with the gorilla than with many humans..

You guys do realise that this happened 20 years ago, and not this week. Just saying, as from some replies, it appears some people may be thinking it's a new article.

hat's my girl with the gorilla... but she's totally safe, says father who has released 20-year-old home video to show how 'gentle and noble and wonderful' great apes are

I seem to remember Steve Irwin got in big trouble for letting his baby boy near crocs... Think I'd rather the Gorilla.

I'd have absolutely no problem with my child playing with and being handled by a female gorilla... A male, yeah, different matter, I wouldn't even entertain the idea of a silverback getting anywhere near my kid....

Mr Aspinall knew what he was doing, does anyone really think he would risk his child's life? Of course not.... He just understood how intelligent, docile, loving and caring these wonderful primates are.... Gorillas are my most favourite animals on the planet, I could watch them forever....

Loved this, thanks OP

reply to post by ollncasino


This story reminds of this girl, Tippi Degre.

Reminds me of the Family Guy episode where they watch the gorilla petting a kitten at the zoo then pull out to show all the dead kittens from before he learned to be nice to them.



No way would I let my kids next to a gorilla like that. :shk:

couldn't he just prove gorillas are safe with himself, instead of his infant daughter.

he should go lie in gorilla sh-t and keep his daughter safe to prove his theory.

wild animals are unpredictable, especially in captivity where years of confinement could make them snap at any moment.

this is just another case of an animal activist losing all sense or priority and believing animal safety and comfort is more important than a human life.