This 28-stone gorilla has been keeping an eye on nervous builders near its enclosure - and weighing in at 176kg, he is one site foreman not to be argued with.
These photos show the 12-year-old silverback, N'Dowe (pronounced Endovay) at home at Paignton Zoo, Devon, where it lives with four other gorillas.
And the huge, muscular primate has taken to terrorising a group of construction workers who are building a new play area and takeaway kiosk at the zoo.
The 12-year-old male gorilla N'Dowe pictured in his enclosure at home at Paignton Zoo, Devon, where he lives with four other gorillas. The huge, muscular primate has taken to terrorising a group of workers from local firm Lee & Lee, who are building a new play area and takeaway kiosk at the zoo
The macho ape, a critically-endangered western lowland gorilla, balances on a tree stump and beats its chest, roaring as it watches over the builders.
Lee & Lee company boss Adrian Lee, who is carrying out work at the zoo, said his team decided to respond to the threat with some chest-pounding of their own - but they aren't nearly as scary as N'Dowe.
He said: 'It's a bit unnerving, being watched by a gorilla, but the lads are taking it all in their stride.
Gorillas display when they feel challenged or if something is encroaching on their territory so this is N'Dowe's way of showing the men who is boss, a zoo spokesman said.
He said: 'The gorillas have a big island. The edge of the moat around that island is the edge of their territory. They are very aware of what is happening there. They watch people like people watch them. As the builders have been there a lot recently, he feels the need to display to show them who's boss. He is checking them out and saying, "I'm bigger and tougher than you."'
Paignton Zoo photographer Ray Wiltshire, who took the pictures, added: 'In the afternoon N'Dowe goes over and watches the builders working. He loves it. He will sit quietly taking it all in for a while - then he goes into his display.'
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