This Woman Was Caught Sneaking Treats to a Gorilla and It’s Adorable
Most people freeze when they see a gorilla up close. Their size, strength, and sheer presence make even experienced zoo visitors uneasy. For Freya Aspinall, it feels different because she grew up around gorillas through her family’s conservation foundation and has known some of them since childhood.
A short Reddit clip captured her crouching next to a female, while slipping her treats and trying not to attract the attention of the group’s leading male. The scene felt both playful and warm, the kind of moment that makes you want to believe becoming friends with a gorilla might actually be possible.
A Closer Look at the Viral Clip
Despite her best attempts to hide the snacks, the large male notices within seconds, approaches the two, and cuts off the attempt at secrecy. Online viewers reacted with humor and compared the scene to parents sneaking food without alerting their children. What looks lighthearted actually illustrates how watchful and aware gorillas are, especially alpha males.
Silverbacks maintain control of their groups, and food distribution plays a significant role in their influence. The female’s initial hesitation in taking the treat when the silverback was nearby added another layer to the clip, which hinted at the subtle dynamics within gorilla families.
Kifu The Silverback Gorilla
The silverback in the video is Kifu, a powerful male with a reputation for asserting himself during feeding. Observers noted that he often takes food given to females and demands additional portions from handlers. This behavior is not unusual for dominant males, who control access to resources and maintain status within the group.
Kifu lives with several mates, and although his sons have been rewilded successfully, he cannot be released because of the needs of his family group.
The actions of this male reflect the classic image of silverback dominance, yet research shows these dynamics are more complex than simple male dominance. Long-term studies have revealed that female gorillas are not passive members of their groups. In fact, females sometimes overpower non-alpha males and gain priority access to nutrition.
Silverbacks like Kifu hold standing, but female influence shapes decisions, reproduction, and group stability. The female’s reluctance in the clip may seem submissive, but her role within the group is likely stronger than the moment suggests.
How Female Gorillas Influence the Group
Image via Canva/Nick Fox
Observations in Bwindi National Park found that females win about one in four conflicts with males despite their smaller size. When this happens, females often gain first choice of provisions, which changes the balance of authority in subtle ways.
Female choice also shapes entire groups. In western gorillas, young females leave their natal families. On the other hand, in mountain gorillas, where multiple silverbacks can share a group, females sometimes stay. This power of choice shows that females decide far more than once assumed.