TOKYO (AFP) - A giant gorilla with brooding good looks and rippling muscles is causing a stir at a Japanese zoo, with women flocking to check out the hunky pin-up.

Shabani, an 18-year-old silverback who tips the scales at around 180kg, 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."

Shabani, who has been at the zoo since 2007, shot to fame after being made the campaign model for the zoo's spring festival earlier this year, Mr Ishikawa said, adding that the ape's paternal skills are also a big hit with women. "He's a father and he always protects and looks over his children," he said. "Zoogoers think his kindness is attractive too."

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.

"He will look you in the eye and sometimes if you're taking photos it will look like he's posing for you like a model," said Mr Ishikawa.

"But he's the head of a group of five gorillas so it's likely he's just watching out for them and keeping an eye on you."