AN animal trainer in the U.S. has taught a Western Low Land Gorilla how to do a handstand by copying her actions through his enclosure glass.

Rachel Hale, who works at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida, taught 13-year-old gorilla Borlingo the move after countless hours of practice.

In a video shared online by Brian Afflixio, Hale and Borlingo are seen greeting each other before they both spin around and put their feet on the glass to do a handstand.

Before they show several visitors their impressive moves, the pair put their hands on the glass and Hale opens her hands to get the gorilla’s attention.

Hale and Borlingo have been working together for over three years and have developed their own signs to communicate.

The animal trainer came up with a series of hand signals, sounds, gestures and expressions to help her talk to Borlingo.

The video filmed in December and posted on Afflixio’s Instagram page also shows Hale using a whistle when around the enclosure.

He explains how although it’s entertaining to watch Borlingo do the handstand, Hale’s hard work actually helps her complete a daily wellness check on the animal.

Afflixio said, “I met Rachel Hale through my Instagram page roulette_travel last year when she was hiking on a road trip across the country.

“We hiked together and instantly became friends. She is an animal trainer in Florida at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, and runs her Instagram page rachelmeetsplanet.

“Over the last three years, she has worked with gorillas, training and building relationships with them. She was the first known person to teach a gorilla to do a handstand.”

(SD-Agencies)