VIDEO: Gorilla breaks window at Nebraska zoo

OMAHA, Neb. (WLS) -- Several inches of glass were all that stood between a raging gorilla and a family visiting a Nebraska zoo - and it almost wasn't enough.

The family seemed to be in shock as the gorilla jumped at a window of its enclosure, cracking it on impact.

The situation might have seemed more dire than it actually was as zoo officials say the windows are triple-layered, and the gorilla only broke the first layer.

One zoo keeper says it's normal behavior and that the ape was just trying to establish dominance.

"Whatever makes them look like the biggest, baddest guy around, that's what they do to actually avoid a physical confrontation," said Dan Cassidy, zoo curator.

The gorillas continued to pound on the glass while crews get ready to replace the broken window.