The educational value provided by zoos is rarely lost on kids and lovers of biology. Likewise, for the trained specialists who care for captive animals at the best kept zoos, human-animal bonds can be deep and even rehabilitative.
On the other hand, animals are complex creatures with their own behavioral ticks, and when human beings aren't careful about how they interact with other species, the results can be dangerous.
On Thursday, a video from what is thought to be Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo was posted on YouTube and has racked up over 2 million views in less than a day.
In the video below, two silverback gorillas can be seen in their enclosure. The more distant of the two appears to be peacefully walking about at first, but then suddenly loses it and charges at a family of four behind the glass.
It's hard to say what came over this gorilla so suddenly, but the charge and lunge packed enough force to crack the glass without fully breaking through. According to the World Gorilla Foundation, silverbacks can measure up to 6 feet tall and weigh 500 pounds.
6 ABC speculates that maybe the little girl's chest pounding act provoked the gorilla into a fit of rage.
The world may never know.