gorillas paren in zicht van kinderen in zoo antwerpen
Antwerpen, dinsdag, 3 februari 2026.
Bezoekers van Zoo Antwerpen, inclusief jonge kinderen, waren getuige van natuurlijk paringsgedrag tussen twee gorilla’s. Het incident speelde zich af in het binnenverblijf, vlakbij het glazen wand, waar geen zichtbelemmering was. Kinderen keken gefascineerd toe, terwijl ouders vaak gegeneerd reageerden. Journaliste Sara Vermassen deelde de beelden online en grapte dat de dierentuin spontane seksuele voorlichting biedt. De actieve deelnemer is het mannelijke gorillajong Ayo, dat sinds november deel uitmaakt van het Europese kweekprogramma. Hij paarde met een wijfje uit zijn eigen groep. De dierentuin benadrukt dat dit normaal diergedrag is. Medewerkers proberen bezoekers te informeren of weg te leiden, maar kunnen dergelijke momenten niet altijd voorkomen. Of er een zwangerschap zal volgen, is nog onduidelijk.
incident in belgium
In Belgium, at Zoo Antwerpen, visitors witnessed mating behavior between two gorillas inside the indoor enclosure. The event occurred near a large glass panel, offering unobstructed views. Families with young children were present, including television journalist Sara Vermassen accompanied by her 3.5-year-old son [1]. She recorded the scene and later shared it online, commenting humorously that Zoo Antwerpen provides spontaneous sex education [2]. The visibility could not be controlled due to the exhibit design.
natural behavior amid public surprise
The male gorilla involved is named Ayo, who joined the European breeding program in November 2025 [3]. He engaged in natural reproductive behavior with a female from his social group inside the climate-controlled habitat [4]. Such actions fall under normal animal conduct according to zoo authorities [1][2]. While staff aim to guide visitors away during sensitive moments, immediate intervention is not always feasible [3]. Public reactions ranged from fascination among children to discomfort among parents witnessing the act firsthand [4].
institutional response and privacy challenges
Zoo Antwerpen emphasized that observing authentic animal behaviors is part of the visitor experience [1][3]. Enclosures prioritize animal welfare over sightline management, limiting options for blocking views during intimate acts [2]. The institution refrained from editing public access routes despite prior similar incidents [4]. There remains no confirmation whether the mating will lead to pregnancy, pending further observation by veterinary staff [3]. Educational signage does not currently address such spontaneous biological events [1].