Two zookeepers at the Fort Worth Zoo found themselves trapped inside an enclosure with a gorilla.

A now-viral TikTok video shows one of the zookeepers fleeing from Elmo, a 34-year-old silverback gorilla, as he runs toward her. The second zookeeper is seen hiding behind a tree and running to safety once Elmo backs down. 

Frightened observers in the background of the video can be heard ushering children away from the enclosure and praying for the zookeepers’ safety. 

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. God help her,” a woman is heard saying. 

 The TikTok video, which has amassed over 70 million views, was posted this Friday by one of the zoo’s security officers under the handle @ben306069.

Later the same day, the security officer released a video statement explaining the incident, which he said occurred on Oct. 20, 2023. 

“Basically, a lock was left unsecured,” the security officer said. “Elmo is a really smart gorilla, he opened the cage door and went out to the exhibit. The zookeepers were just trying to do a routine feeding.”

Avery Elander, director of the Fort Worth Zoo’s marketing and public relations, said that due to an error, “staff entered the yard unaware that the silverback was still in its habitat.” 

Both zookeepers were able to respond appropriately to the ape’s cues and escape the enclosure without harm.