Handsome gorilla. We thought this was one of those funny oxymorons like “business ethics” or “temporary tax increase.” But apparently, Shabani, a Western Lowland gorilla living at the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Nagoya, Japan), has captured the hearts of many young Japanese women with his brooding good looks. Shabani has become a social media sensation over in Japan, with young women referring to the gorilla as ‘ikemen,’ a Japanese slang for ‘handsome guy.’ Such is his popularity that Higashiyama Zoo has recently seen a notable increase in young female visitors, and Shabani sure seems to be enjoying his rise to stardom.
Now, we do have to admit Shabani’s chiselled face, smug grin and intelligent looks make him rather sexy (for a primate), but it’s almost depressing to know that most of us modern men are receiving much less emotional rapport from women than a Western Lowland gorilla.
It’s time to cry a river. There’s no reason to hold back.