He weighs around 500lb and has a face
only his mother would love.

But Ambam the gorilla has become an overnight internet
sensation - viewed across the world almost five million
times.

Ambam, a 20-year-old Silverback Western lowland gorilla, wowed
the world by walking upright like a human at Port Lympne.

The clip quickly went viral, thrusting Ambam into global
superstardom and news crews from around the world flooded to the
park near Folkestone to see Ambam stroll around his enclosure.

Head gorilla keeper, Phil Ridges, said: "We were totally
unprepared for the response as Ambam has been exhibiting this
behaviour his whole life. Just days after uploading the clip the
phones were ringing off the hook with people wanting to know about
Ambam and we were inundated with requests from around the world for
interviews and information.

"We have had a lot of speculation that it is a man in a gorilla
suit or that he has been trained to do this but Ambam has not been
trained in any way, it is just something he chooses and is able to
do."

The footage was filmed by animal researcher Johanna Watson
whilst she was working with the University of Manchester for a
project on great ape locomotion.

Video: Ambam the internet
sensation

Mr Ridges added: "There have certainly been more people coming
down to see the gorillas at feeding time and looking out for him to
stand up, but Ambam doesn't seem to know what the fuss is all
about.

"All gorillas can do it to some extent but we haven't got any
who do it like Ambam and he is quite a celebrity at the park. We
think he might use it to get a height advantage to look over the
wall when keepers come to feed him and standing up can also help
him in looking for food generally in his enclosure as it gives him
a better vantage point.

"Ambam can also carry a lot more food if he stands and uses both
hands and walking on two feet also means he doesn't get his hands
wet when it is raining."

Visitors to Port Lympne can see Ambam and the rest of his group
being scatter fed daily at noon and 3pm.

To view the clip of Ambam visit Port Lympne's site

For further information on visiting the gorillas at Port Lympne
or to adopt a gorilla from £3 per month go to the Aspinall
Foundation website.