Dubai: The grand launch of an indoor bar at a popular beachside hotel in Dubai last week was upstaged by the unlikely disappearance of a massive gorilla that had been roped in along with several other creatures to the happening venue.
It’s anybody’s guess how the concrete gorilla, three feet tall and weighing 40kg, could simply vanish from the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina on a packed party night and whether what transpired was in jest or otherwise. But the hotel’s management launched a frantic hunt for the primate with a public appeal to customers at Barasti to leave their wild animals alone. The creature, nicknamed Gorgeous George by staff, was part of the vast tropical jungle created inside The Lost World of Barasti, a summer tent or “jungalow’, which houses 60 life-size animal replicas from dinosaurs, alligators, chimpanzees and toucans to the missing silverback gorilla.
Apology note
As people across Dubai played along and responded to the social media appeal to track down the beast, Gorgeous George reappeared in the Barasti car park by the afternoon – along with a contrite note of apology.
Asked how the gorilla had gone missing, Derryn French, director of marketing and innovation, Mina Seyahi Complex, said: “The ‘how’ of the disappearance is still unconfirmed, however Gorgeous George was noticed missing around closing time (just before 2am Thursday morning). This was flagged in a security report to venue management first thing Thursday and the social media appeal was launched.”
French said Gorgeous George and his friends had only been residing in Barasti for a short time. “But the management and staff had become quite attached to them, with George becoming the unofficial mascot of The Lost World of Barasti despite – or perhaps because of - his very grumpy attitude. At the time of his disappearance, George was sitting in front of the Lost World, near the entrance of the venue.”
His return was equally mysterious. “Barasti’s security camera captured George’s return; he came back just before 4.30pm on Thursday. He was dropped off by a couple wearing a gorilla suit and gorilla mask that concealed their identity – they left him at the entrance to the Barasti car park with a note of apology before driving off in a hurry,” French said. “The management and staff from Barasti are thrilled to have Gorgeous George home safe and sound, and have made sure that he is securely fixed in his place in The Lost World.”
