Oumbi is one seriously amazing silverback gorilla specimen.

And while zookeepers at England’s Twycross Zoo in Warwickshire call him a big softy at heart, he does have a reputation to uphold in public, so when people are looking the 400+-pound gorilla tends to be all business.

Oumbi is now roughly 28 and has lived in the zoo since 2009 as part of their breeding program for the endangered animals along with three adult females and his two most recent offspring, Lope and Shufai.

A video of Oumbi and Lope went viral back in 2018, though we don’t know when the video was taken (they would have been roughly 26 and 5, respectively, that year). In fact, it has over 5 million views on YouTube and we’re going to guess most of them are from parents who know just what it’s like to have to babysit a rowdy primate.

It shows the dad trying to stay patient with his increasingly badgering son.

Oumbi just looks like he’s trying to relax on his own and think deep gorilla thoughts for a while. But Lope is energy personified…or gorilla-fied.

He approaches dad and at first gets a look that says “not right now, kid.”

Lope is not pleased by the rejection. In fact, he goes to the other side of the wall dad is leaning against and punches it a few times!

Dad knocks back just once and the lesson is learned.

Lope is miffed, so he goes and pouts for a moment.

But really he’s just biding his time while he comes up with another plan to bother dad.

After all, he’s a mighty silverback too and dad has likely taught him that he’ll be the boss one day, so Lope already has a bit of sass. And when there’s only so much trouble you can get in, why not test some boundaries?

So Lope tries to engage Oumbi again. But no dice.

In fact, dad is no longer being subtle. He picks up some of the hay or wood shavings (we’re not sure what’s in there) nearby and puts them on his head as if to stifle the sight and sound of his needy son.

Onlookers are in hysterics at this point. What parent hasn’t at least wanted to bury their head in the nearest pillow when their kid is acting up?

Meanwhile, Lope is SO MAD.

He goes where dad can’t see him, bangs on his chest, and then leans against the wall as if trying to plot a move that will be successful.

Lope plays with his own shavings, trying to emulate his role model.

This is some serious family drama. But the little one is not giving up any time soon.

Again and again, he goes over to dad only to be rebuffed by one glare.

Perhaps coming from another angle will work?

NOPE!

It’s just not playtime. Sorry, Lope!

Be sure to scroll down below to see these two in action – it’s hard not to laugh at their antics (and we know that Oumbi is happy to play most of the time, so Lope is not a neglected offspring!).

Like many zoos that had to close to guests during the pandemic, the Twycross Zoo is struggling to stay solvent. If you’d like to donate to them and help out Oumbi and his family, you can click here to donate.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: @twycrosszoo via Instagram, Rumble Viral via YouTube