The man who ran a gorilla exhibit in the Netherlands is behind bars after an investigation found that he mistreated his animals, including a 16-year-old boy, authorities said Friday.
The man, who has not been identified, is charged with cruelty to animals, animal cruelty, and violation of animal rights laws, the Dutch Ministry of Justice said in a statement.
He is expected to be formally charged later Friday.
The investigation started in July and is being conducted by the National Institute of Animal Care and Research.
The zoo’s head, the zoo’s founder and other staff members were not immediately available for comment.
A video taken inside the exhibit in March showed the boy in a headlock and being restrained in a cage.
He was then pushed to the ground, and his mother was shown on camera trying to restrain him.
The boy said he did not know he was being restrained, and the video has since gone viral.
It has been viewed more than 7.5 million times.
In another video, he said he tried to run away, but his mother restrained him with her hands.
He was later restrained by a veterinarian and then transferred to a different zoo, where he remains.
The boy was given a temporary name and told he could not use it.
He told The Associated Press he plans to keep his new name.
The Associated Press previously reported that the boy had been abused.