Shabani, an 18-year-old silverback who tips the scales at around 180 kilograms (400 pounds), has become the star attraction at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, striking smouldering poses the movie model in "Zoolander" would be proud of.
"He often rests his chin on his hands and looks intently at you," zoo spokesman Takayuki Ishikawa told AFP on Friday.
"He is more buff than most gorillas and he's at his peak physically. We've seen a rise in the number of female visitors -- women say he's very good-looking."
"He's a father and he always protects and looks over his children," he said. "Zoo-goers think his kindness is attractive too."
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Women have taken to social media to swoon about Shabani's rugged looks, describing him as "ikemen" -- or a hunk -- and likening him to a male model.
A recent flurry of tweets has made Shabani a national celebrity, with Japan's broadcasters NHK and NTV featuring the gorilla on popular shows.