Harambe shot dead

[Grandad]

On Saturday Harambe, the 400lb silverback gorilla, was shot dead in Cincinnati zoo after a 3 year old child had found his way into the enclosure and Harambe was dragging the child around like a rag doll. This has now drawn a reaction from animal wel;fare groups claiming that the shooting was unnecessary.

In my opinion there was no option to protect the child. Does anyone have any opposite views?

[LovelyLadyLux]

it is getting LOTS of attention here and personally I find it absolutely horrific that the gorilla needed to be shot. Totally tragic situation all 'round and if there were no other options available I support the action that was taken ....... however .........Firstly - I am more than needing to know HOW the child ended up IN the enclosure. Were there gaps? Did the mother hold him over and drop him? How did a child end up in such a dangerous situation? I'd want to know the mother & fathers history of neglect.

I realize that we all want to SEE the animals but in most any zoo I've been to there are barriers all over and nobody gets close so how did this child manage to actually fall into the zoo?

Secondly re: shooting the gorilla - such a tragedy - and while I do realize he was dragging the child about by the foot through water I'd also love to know IF zookeepers immediately got all the screaming lookie-loos away and stopped the screaming noise so the gorilla wasn't further spooked and if they had any type of signal or learned response the gorilla had been conditioned to respond to. In other words could they have i.e. rung a bell giving him the signal his favourite food was coming in the off hand chance he'd beat feet back to his enclosure so he could be separated from the child?

The above being said when a child's life is in emergent immediate peril I realize that actions need to be taken so as to ensure the safety and well being of the child and I don't think anybody would have wanted to take the chance the gorilla would attack/kill the child so since the action was taken in very short order I can only concur it was the way to go but ??? Geez I hated to see this entire scenario unfold. Real tragedy.

[LovelyLadyLux]

FYI - Just turned on the Evening TV news here who did a poll and asked the question: Was the Cinncinnati zoo right in shooting? 71% in favour of the shooting and 29% against.

Definitely LOTS of discussion on this.

I know they said a regular tranquillizer would take to long to go into effect but I wish there was something they could have shot the gorilla with that would have knocked it out right away and taken the chance they could revive him with no long term ill effect. Again just so sad and tragic.

[Grandad]

I have made it clear on here many times that I love animals and to see such a majestic animal shot dead saddens me.
I accept all of your comments LLL but most relate to HOW the child was able to get into the enclosure. Those are questions to be asked now but they were no relevant at the time. I am sure the keepers would have very quickly considered all the options but an animal with a new toy is unlikely to take notice of any usual calls for food etc.

[LovelyLadyLux]

It was truly a very sad and tragic outcome. So terrible to have to shoot the gorilla and so really very frustrating to know there were really no other options as time was of the essence. I think my 'try to give it food' etc was just my own frustration that this was a no win scenario.

Today on the morning News the Police have opened a CRIMINAL investigation against the parents and they're calling for anybody who was there and who witnessed anything to come forward and make statements.

I want and need to know HOW this child managed to fall into the enclosure. From tidbits I've heard and read the wall about the enclosure was 3' high and so was the child so quite unlikely he was able to hoist up to the top only to fall in. Personally I'm suspicious the parents are totally innocent and I'm basing that only on what I've heard on the TV News that they said the boy wanted to 'play with the gorilla' and 'be with the gorilla.'

I've listened to Jack Hannah and Jane Goodall this morning voice their opinions which only echo'd that this was such a serious decision with really no choice to make in 10 seconds or less but DAMN this is so awful and tragic!!!