Western lowland gorillas are the animal world’s George Clooney. Don’t believe me? Meet Shabani the gorilla, residing in Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya, Japan. The Japanese call him ikemen, meaning ‘handsome guy.’ We call him a brooding, musclebound heartbreaker.
Shabani, the Western gorilla, has stolen many hearts with his athletic body type and dreamy gaze. Shabani is not one of your regular zoo animals as he spends his days flexing, staring thoughtfully into the distance, and enjoying bona fide social media fame. He’s Dutch-born, Australian-bred, now resides comfortably in your dreams. Sure, he may have two wives and at least two children already, but he’s a gorilla – they have this thing about not settling down. When he’s not too busy being Higashiyama’s official spokesman or doing ads for Japanese candies and cakes, he’s the wild company to be with.
Swipe right… Er, down, to see the handsome gorilla pictures in all the glory, and let us know if you’d go for a walk in the jungle with him.
Meet Shabani, a 19-year-old gorilla who’s been living at Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya, Japan since 2007
He’s Dutch-born, Australian-bred, and 100% man
Image credits: Getty Images
People in Japan have become so charmed by him, they call him ikemen – ‘handsome guy’
Image credits: gori2gorilla
And, um… Can anyone blame them?
Image credits: Getty Images
That brooding stare, those endless eyes, the way he struts around with so much confidence…
Image credits: gori2gorilla
He’s even an entertainer!
Image credits: gori2gorilla
Shabani went globally viral back in 2015, and though he’s kept it humble, he seems to enjoy the fame
Image credits: gori2gorilla
He’s a western lowland gorilla, a critically-endangered species native to central Africa
Image credits: minty
They are often hunted for their skin and meat, or captured to be sold to zoos
Image credits: chiyu
Shabani was sent to Japan as part of a breeding program, and this hunk certainly did his part
Image credits: hapyyuka
After taking 2 lucky wives, Shabani now has 2 children, named Kiyomasi and Annie
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Higashiyama Zoo even made him their official spokesman
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Given his resemblance to certain famous faces, we see the appeal
Image credits: katelcunningham
Image credits: phillustrations
After teaming up with Nagoya-based department store Parco, Shabani found his true calling – modelling
Image credits: parco_nagoya
Image credits: parco_nagoya
Image credits: lilylilyelf
Would you go for a romp in the jungle with Shabani? Tell us below!
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