A crowd at a Chinese Zoo was left screaming after a famous gorilla hurled a rock at spectators and injured a visitor.
The incident took place in the city of Nanning in southern China, on May 1.
According to local reports, the gorilla, known to fans as ‘Diunaxing,’ was playing in front of a crowd at Nanning Zoo when it suddenly threw a rock into the audience.
Footage captured by onlookers showed the huge beast running around its enclosure holding the rock in its hand before launching it.
Zoo staff rushed to the scene after the rock hit a zoo visitor. They were taken to hospital, though the injuries were later confirmed as minor.
The Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism said the tourist returned to their hotel after treatment.
The source of the rock is still unknown and is currently under investigation.
Diunaxing is well known to zoo-goers and social media users in China for its playful behaviour, especially throwing objects like turf and flowers at crowds.
The gorilla could be seen gearing up to throw the rock directly into the crowd
Zoo staff rushed to the scene and an injured person was taken to hospital, though the injuries were later confirmed as minor
The same animal went viral in March 2024 for digging up clumps of grass and turf and throwing them at visitors, striking one man on the head.
The video from that incident was widely shared on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, where users debated the ethics of such performances.
One user said: ‘It’s the cornerstone of Nanning Zoo. Nanning Zoo now relies entirely on it to attract visitors.’
Another added: ‘If there was no electricity [on the fence] the gorilla would jump out and slap a tourist to death.’
In response to the recent incident, the zoo clarified that the gorilla would not be punished.
Staff said they respected the habits of wild animals and encouraged peaceful coexistence rather than disciplinary action.
Nanning Zoo’s senior animal trainer, Kong Fanming, previously stated that gorillas are intelligent, emotionally expressive, and often imitate human behaviour.
The zoo has urged tourists not to tease or feed the animals, warning that such actions can provoke unpredictable responses.
Diunaxing remains a major attraction at the zoo, and the gorilla house is still open to the public.
