A chimpanzee at Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent, UK, stole the show when a zoo visitor played a clip of King Kong on a mobile phone.
Tammy Layne, 54, captured the moment while visiting with her partner, filming the primate completely transfixed by the giant ape wreaking havoc on-screen.
The chimp had already seen a longer video of playful chimpanzees, but the second clip, a classic scene from King Kong, seemed to hold its attention like nothing else.
As the couple held up the phone, the primate’s eyes stayed glued to the screen, utterly absorbed in the action.
Social media quickly exploded with reactions to the video, with viewers calling the chimp “the ultimate King Kong fan” and joking that it had “finally found its favorite actor.” Animal lovers, primate enthusiasts, and meme creators alike couldn’t get enough of the footage. Comments poured in: “That chimp is more invested in King Kong than I ever was,” and “Next up: chimp movie review channel on YouTube?”
Others found it a bit sad to watch, pointing out that seeing a chimpanzee behind glass in a zoo can be upsetting for many.
See for yourself below and decide what you think:
Gripping a chimp crowd
This isn’t the first time a chimpanzee has been captivated by King Kong. A study in Japan revealed that chimps not only focused intently on a short, homemade clip of a man in a furry ape costume attacking a human, but also remembered key details, like where the weapons were hidden, when shown the video again 24 hours later.
Eye-tracking data revealed that the primates clearly recalled the “hammer moment,” proving their memory and focus rival that of humans in some ways.
Scientists have also discovered that chimpanzees can strengthen social bonds by watching videos together, suggesting that the human tendency to connect through shared experiences may have deep evolutionary roots.
In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, chimps, bonobos, and other great apes were shown short videos either alone or with a partner. Those who watched with a partner approached them faster and stayed closer afterward, indicating increased sociability.
The research challenges the idea that humans are unique in connecting through shared experiences, like watching movies or listening to music. While the study only tracked interactions for three minutes and used captive animals, it hints that social bonding through shared experiences could have ancient evolutionary origins.
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