'Terrifying': Charging gorilla breaks enclosure glass at San Diego Zoo

""I was really shocked. There was probably a 6-foot crack and the gorilla was just staring at me," she said. "It was terrifying.""

""It is common for male gorillas, especially in adolescence, to express these types of behaviors," a zoo spokesperson said. "Bursts of energy, charging, dragging items, or running sideways are all natural for a young male.""

""They were really fun to watch because they were kind of taunting each other," she said. "They kept going in circles, almost swiping at each other, but then not quite hitting each other.""

Denny, a 10-year-old western lowland gorilla, broke one of the three layers of tempered glass separating guests from the gorilla habitat, leaving a deep crack inches from a visitor's face. The exhibit was temporarily closed while the glass is repaired. Adolescent male gorillas commonly display bursts of energy such as charging, dragging items, or running sideways. Two male gorillas had been playfully taunting and circling each other before the glass was damaged. Visitors fled the exhibit after seeing the crack. Adult male gorillas can weigh 300–500 pounds and lift up to ten times their body weight.

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