How a hashtag brought a ‘gorilla’ home
dubai — It soon became a case of owner and gorilla, happily reunited, when a 40kg, one metre tall ape went walkabout in Dubai on Thursday. But don’t fear, we’re not talking about the real thing here.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, a life-size replica silverback — dubbed Gorgeous George — went missing from his spot at the front of the ‘Lost World’ in Marina’s beachside venue, Barasti.
But the lovable ape was returned within hours after Dubai residents took to social media to #BringGeorgeHome. Complete with a note, which read: “I’m sorry! He followed me home from Barasti,” Gorgeous George was left in the carpark of Barasti by a couple wearing a gorilla suit and mask. He was unharmed, and welcomed with open arms by the staff who had grown “very fond” of him.
Gorgeous George’s owners are now encouraging everyone to go and take pictures with him, but please, they said, “don’t take our George home”.
dubai — A 40kg, one metre tall gorilla which went missing in Dubai on Thursday morning was safely returned to it’s rightful owners within hours, after Dubai residents took to social media to #BringGeorgeHome. Within hours, in what first appeared to be a friendly case of kidnap soon became a case of reunion of the owner and gorilla. But don’t fear, it wasn’t the real McCoy.
The life-like replica silver back — dubbed Gorgeous George — was last seen sitting in the entrance of the air-conditioned Jungalow at the front of the ‘Lost World’, a vast tropical jungle created inside Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina’s Barasti venue.
While the gorilla was still missing in action during the afternoon on Thursday, the hotel management told Khaleej Times that Barasti staff had become “very fond of Gorgeous George” and their only request to the practical joker/s was to “bring George home”.
“Whoever the prankster/s are that have Gorgeous George, there won’t be any questions asked as long as he is returned home unharmed — he’s truly missed.”
Though the gorilla had only graced the staff with his presence for one evening, they all grew very attached to him. And once they realised he was missing, they quickly launched a social media campaign with the hashtag, #BringGeorgeHome, to ensure his safe return.
The public appeal led to his return by the anonymous culprit. Thousands of people across Dubai were quick to respond to the requests to track him down, and later that afternoon Gorgeous George reappeared in the Barasti car park after a couple dressed in gorilla suits placed him on the ground — along with a contrite note of apology.
“I’m sorry! He followed me home from Barasti,” the note read.
Gorgeous George is now happily back in the Jungalow alongside 60 fellow life-size animal replicas including dinosaurs, alligators, chimpanzees and toucans.
Staff first realised George had done a vanishing act in the early hours of Thursday morning. Not only had the gorilla stole their hearts, it seems he caught the attention of partygoers too, subsequently resulting in his disappearance. Promising to ask “no questions”, the management appealed to the prankster/s for the safe return of the loveable ape.
Whoever the prankster/s are that have Gorgeous George, there won’t be any questions asked as long as he is returned home unharmed — he’s truly missed.” Management, Barasti
As the hunt for the gorilla continued throughout the day, a spokesperson told Khaleej Times that some “promising leads” had come up — including a possible sighting near one of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks.
“We’ve had a number of lookalikes shared via Barasti’s social media page throughout the day, and one report earlier this morning suggested he was spotted near the Burj Khalifa, although we’re not sure how accurate that is.”
And as staff remained hopeful for his return, their wishes soon came true as George was back at Barasti. Extra security measures have now been taken to ensure he doesn’t go walkabout again. The Barasti staff are now encouraging everyone to take pictures with Gorgeous George, but not to take him home.