‘Run run run!’ Visitors see gorilla chase stray dog at California zoo, video shows

A gorilla charges a stray dog inside a San Diego Zoo Safari Park enclosure as onlookers called out to the dog, a video shows.

“Run run run!” a visitor shouts as the dog falls or jumps into a dry moat surrounding the habitat Sunday, June 12, the video posted by KUSI shows.

The dog, one of two seen on zoo grounds in Escondido, California, jumped into the exhibit about 4 p.m., zoo officials told KGTV. Two gorillas were inside at the time.

Onlookers called for help and began shouting the names of the gorillas to distract them as they noticed the intruder, the video shows.

Zookeepers called the two gorillas out of the exhibit so Humane Society of San Diego workers could rescue the dog, KFMB reported.

No one was hurt. The dog, an unchipped German shepherd mix, will be held as the Humane Society looks for its owners, according to the station.

Rescuers have named the dog “Mighty Joe Young” after the giant gorilla in the 1949 and 1998 films, KSWB reported.

This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 10:41 AM with the headline "‘Run run run!’ Visitors see gorilla chase stray dog at California zoo, video shows."