An unfortunate event took place at the Cincinnati Zoo over the weekend. The zoo’s dangerous animal response team shot and killed a western lowland silverback gorilla after a 3 year old boy fell into the animal’s enclosure.
Zoo officials have explained that the only option was to shot the gorilla with a rifle noting that a tranquilizer’s effect would take too long. However, the zoo is facing a ton of backlash because many people feel that the gorilla, named Harambe, was simply trying to protect the child before becoming spooked by crowd. A firefighter who responded to the incident stated “that the gorilla was violently dragging and throwing the child” when they were called.
Video of the incident shows Harambe looking over the child and possibly trying to protect the child before picking him up out of the moat and dragging him into another spot in the exhibit. Zoo director Thayne Maynard agreed that Harambe didn’t appear to be attacking the child, but was “an extremely strong” animal in an agitated situation. Maynard stated, “It’s a sad day all around. They made a tough choice and they made the right choice, because they saved that little boy’s life. It could have been very bad.”
The boy’s family released the following statement, “We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff. We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla.” Lieutenant Steve Saunders, a Cincinnati police spokesman, said that the parents will face no charges.
Take a look at the horrifying video below. WARNING: The video is graphic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBeVfQtSD2k
