{"id":150225,"date":"2025-08-16T10:13:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T10:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/150225\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T10:13:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T10:13:12","slug":"brookfield-zoo-gorilla-cradles-small-child-who-fell-into-her-tropic-world-habitat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/150225\/","title":{"rendered":"Brookfield Zoo gorilla cradles small child who fell into her Tropic World habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 16, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n<p>Is an important event missing from this date? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/16\/chicago-history-august-16\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"mWbeKJcSSY\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2022\/08\/16\/vintage-chicago-tribune-extra-edition-elvis-is-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune Extra Edition: ELVIS IS DEAD!!!!!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Weather records <\/strong>(from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/wrh\/climate?wfo=lot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High temperature: <strong>98 degrees<\/strong> (1988)<\/li>\n<li>Low temperature: <strong>48 degrees<\/strong> (2004)<\/li>\n<li>Precipitation: <strong>3.79 inches<\/strong> (1968)<\/li>\n<li>Snowfall: <strong>None<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"White Sox Park under construction in an undated photo. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)\" width=\"5777\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-White-Sox-083_229063397.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"26638514\" \/>White Sox Park under construction in an undated photo. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1927:<\/strong> New York Yankees slugger <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-babe-ruth-hits-home-run\/178947376\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Babe Ruth<\/a> became the first baseball player to hit a home run over the roof of a new double deck in right field at Comiskey Park. It was his 37th home run of the season. \u201cSuch a blow started from Wrigley field would jeopardize the lives of golfers on the Lincoln park course, it was estimated,\u201d Edward Burns wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 8-1.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Bushman the gorilla is with a keeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo in an undated photo. Bushman lived from 1930 to 1951. (Chicago Park District)\" width=\"3555\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ctc-bushman-2jpg-CT0079055485.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"18316612\" \/>Bushman the gorilla is with a keeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo in an undated photo. Bushman lived from 1930 to 1951. (Chicago Park District)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1930:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/515gNgHoiqz0YgDBq5OzUqyWPwU1Ki0-YhEWZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gFI3Su3LRdIvLjzeVWP00h7xeI0w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/515gNgHoiqz0YgDBq5OzUqyWPwU1Ki0-YhEWZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gFI3Su3LRdIvLjzeVWP00h7xeI0w&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755356268613000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SZ6H0hbbUdxndyp5_o4HE\">Bushman<\/a>, a 40-pound, 2-year-old gorilla from Cameroon,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/uQlJy1HqhIH0YPKmGlKem03U6juQG8zB8wGCZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4guY2Yl44ccoLLNWBXFiHbaq7qImQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/uQlJy1HqhIH0YPKmGlKem03U6juQG8zB8wGCZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4guY2Yl44ccoLLNWBXFiHbaq7qImQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755356268613000&amp;usg=AOvVaw32r-1fkvMiE5aNr02w7U4Y\">arrived<\/a>\u00a0at Lincoln Park Zoo.<\/p>\n<p>The Tribune reported he had been captured by J.L. Buck, an animal hunter from Camden, Massachusetts, who killed the young gorilla\u2019s mother in order to get to him. Lincoln Park Zoo purchased the primate for $3,500 (or almost $68,000 in today\u2019s dollars) \u2014 a practice that was common in those days. At the time, there was not much known about this species, their diet and their rearing. The Tribune reported the youngster feasted heartily on \u201chot dogs, bananas, watermelon and chicken\u201d when he first appeared at his new home. He was given the name Bushman by zookeeper Eddie Robinson.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"2lgVVgrfti\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/05\/30\/vintage-chicago-tribune-our-favorite-animals-who-became-celebrities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune: Our favorite animals who became celebrities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>During his lifetime, Bushman was seen by an estimated 100 million people.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/6H29SSBG8UH0YnsKl2Ji5GZUDUcjQs6-jlOsZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gZWO_D2PUcIPL0-5ONNlyMlmZmvg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/6H29SSBG8UH0YnsKl2Ji5GZUDUcjQs6-jlOsZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gZWO_D2PUcIPL0-5ONNlyMlmZmvg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755356268613000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1VOa3ChcxHUUYBNz_ZMRGP\">More than 100,000<\/a>\u00a0of them came to the zoo on a June day in 1950, as rumors spread that he was dying. He was not, and later that year tasted a bit of freedom when he escaped from his cage \u2014 the door was left open \u2014 and wandered around the kitchen and some hallways for a few hours. A tiny garter snake frightened him back to his cage, but that only further endeared him.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/yVDlBsKhprg0Y7ZRYDTTkuhNE3QfZ2WMn-MyZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4grVtK3Q0XdK0Lkd1HA6ntUhK5eSw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/yVDlBsKhprg0Y7ZRYDTTkuhNE3QfZ2WMn-MyZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4grVtK3Q0XdK0Lkd1HA6ntUhK5eSw&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755356268614000&amp;usg=AOvVaw22Tj0WkipcYDgRKm69Z5BV\">His death<\/a>\u00a0was announced Jan. 1, 1951. Thousands rushed to the zoo, hoping it was, again, just a rumor. What they discovered was the ape\u2019s cage, empty but for a life-size black-draped portrait of Bushman. A brass band played taps. Many fans placed flowers by the cage.<\/p>\n<p>Visitors to The Field Museum can still\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/rZ612bsdruu0Y51-p6KTfRm4H6MNWki9YoXnZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gALDhs8YpdZ0Laz1wk5gQqkAO14A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/enews.chicagotribune.com\/q\/rZ612bsdruu0Y51-p6KTfRm4H6MNWki9YoXnZcOJa2pydW1vcmVAZ21haWwuY29tw4gALDhs8YpdZ0Laz1wk5gQqkAO14A&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755356268614000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3im-2ssqvSRTOn0hD9uoP6\">see Bushman<\/a>, whose remains were preserved by taxidermists.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"A United Airline 727 jet crashed in Lake Michigan seven miles east of Highland Park on Aug. 16, 1965. The aircraft was just minutes away from landing at O'Hare International Airport. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"2196\" height=\"295\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-LAKE-MICHIGAN-PLANE-CRASH-1965-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"17938315\" \/>A United Airline 727 jet crashed in Lake Michigan 7 miles east of Highland Park on Aug. 16, 1965. The aircraft was just minutes away from landing at O&#8217;Hare International Airport. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1965:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-flash-of-explosion-seen\/164289434\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Airlines Flight 389<\/a> crashed into Lake Michigan near Highland Park. Witnesses saw <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-probe-plane-crash-in-lak\/178945820\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a flash of light<\/a> and heard a thunderous roar as the 727 was set to land at O\u2019Hare International Airport. All 30 passengers aboard died.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kqybKrctTQ\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2022\/06\/02\/vintage-chicago-tribune-what-our-critics-wrote-about-the-first-top-gun-jurassic-park-toy-story-movies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune: What our critics wrote about the first \u2018Top Gun,\u2019 \u2018Jurassic Park,\u2019 \u2018Toy Story\u2019 movies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>1989:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-john-candy-is-back-in-a\/160296921\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cUncle Buck\u201d<\/a> starring John Candy, which was filmed in Chicago and the suburbs, was released in theaters. The Tribune gave it 3 out of 4 stars.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Binti-Jua, a western lowland gorilla, cradled a three-year-old boy who fell into her habitat on Aug. 16, 1996, at Tropic World in Brookfield Zoo. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"1587\" height=\"335\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-BINTI-JUA-BROOKFIELD-ZOO-1996-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"26639530\" \/>Binti-Jua, a western lowland gorilla, cradled a 3-year-old boy who fell into her habitat on Aug. 16, 1996, at Tropic World in Brookfield Zoo. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1996:<\/strong> Western lowland gorilla Binti-Jua \u2014 with her own baby clinging to her back \u2014 picked up, then cradled a 3-year-old boy who tumbled more than 15 feet into a pit at Brookfield Zoo\u2019s Tropic World exhibit.<\/p>\n<p>Zoo officials said the 160-pound gorilla, who had received training on how to be a good mother, appeared to act out of maternal compassion for the human child.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnother gorilla walked toward the boy, and she kind of turned around and walked away from the other gorillas and tried to be protective,\u201d said a zoo visitor.<\/p>\n<p>Keepers recovered the boy, who suffered a head injury during the fall. Newsweek named Binti-Jua its hero of the year in a poll.<\/p>\n<p>Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to the free\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\">Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\">Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/tag\/chicago-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n<p>Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/16\/chicago-history-august-16\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/16\/chicago-history-august-16\/mailto:mmather@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 16, according to the Tribune\u2019s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":150226,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[88341,38259,88342,88346,960,6387,18037,88344,56435,5386,1818,56436,88343,88345,5390],"class_list":{"0":"post-150225","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-august-16","9":"tag-babe-ruth","10":"tag-brookfield-zoo","11":"tag-bushman","12":"tag-chicago","13":"tag-chicago-history","14":"tag-comiskey-park","15":"tag-gene-siskel","16":"tag-gorilla","17":"tag-il","18":"tag-illinois","19":"tag-lincoln-park-zoo","20":"tag-tropic-world","21":"tag-uncle-buck","22":"tag-white-sox"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115037916971580782","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}