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New Video Reveals Gorilla Was Holding Hands With Boy Before Being Shot
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New Video Reveals Gorilla Was Holding Hands With Boy Before Being Shot

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Anybody who’s been following the news will no doubt have heard about Harambe, the 17-year-old silverback gorilla who was shot dead by zookeepers after a four-year-old boy fell 15ft into his enclosure. Cincinnati Zoo stood by its decision to kill the animal and argued that the boy’s life was in danger, but a new video has emerged appearing to show the 400lb gorilla holding hands with the boy prior to being shot. What do you think?

The incident has caused widespread outrage among animal rights activists who insist that Harambe was showing no aggression towards the child. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have criticized the zoo’s lack of a second protective barrier around Harambe’s habitat and almost 300,000 people have signed a petition to punish the parents for allowing their child to enter the enclosure in the first place. Whoever is responsible, there’s no denying that what happened was a tragedy. RIP Harambe.

UPDATE: zookeeper finally explains what Harambe was actually doing with the kid.

Harambe was shot after a four-year-old boy fell into his enclosure

Zookeepers said the boy was in danger but the video seems to show them holding hands

Was he just trying to protect the kid from the crowd? Watch the video and decide for yourself:

The incident has caused widespread outrage among animal rights activists

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Cincinnati Zoo has been heavily criticized and so have the boy’s parents

RIP Harambe

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markscott avatar
Mark Scott
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorilla was doing a better job of looking after the kid than the mom was

mikeolson avatar
tara_skogly avatar
Linn Tara Lenby
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sad part here is that if the crowd hadn't been shouting and screaming and making so much noise, the gorilla most likely wouldn't have freaked out.

vaness17fr avatar
Vanessa
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah that's sad, why people have to scream like this when something happens, it never helps

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praveendhamija avatar
praveen dhamija
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why Zoo administration didn't use tranquillizer gun to make him unconscious instead of killing?

barboraszulcov avatar
Barbora Szulcová
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They 'say' it could cause more danger to that kid, but really? When they shot him dead he could fall at him as well.

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mirceat avatar
Mircea T
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of many reasons why animals should not live their life in cages. Few weeks ago a lion has been shot because an idiot wanted to die..

54360d54ca380 avatar
Cassandra Misale
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why kill the lion when the lion was probably scared and protecting his home. I really doubt someone would go and do the same thing. And if someone really wants to get killed by a lion, others would surely do the same thing. We are not safer because the lion is dead.

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darklumiya avatar
DarkLumiya
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they should have shot the irresponsible parent instead. all zoos should shut down and it should just be safaris or something. somewhere where idiotic humans can't easily fall in or come in close contact with these poor animals

rishitarane avatar
Attack On Titan Is Awesome
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your so right actually. Just because a human fell in there the poor gorilla was shot and they "saved" the child. Unbelievable.

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shru_kn avatar
Shruti Naik
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Faced with that situation maybe I would've made the same decision.. but think about this.. you get a creature out of his natural habitat, put him in captivity for human entertainment and then kill him because he seemed dangerous...who is dangerous? us; the human beings...

valerie_sellen avatar
Valerie Sellen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The animal of course he is wild it's the irresponsible parents that are dangerous just ignorant!!

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kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One Gorilla gets shot in a zoo => huge outrage. Gorillas get extinct because we destroy their habitat for oil and gold => hardly anyone cares. Orang Utangs become extinct because their habitat is destroyed for palm oil => not even a twitch, most people don't even know. I'm not sure what annoys me more: the hypocrisy or the idiocy of these 'outraged' people.

54360d54ca380 avatar
Cassandra Misale
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately people don't realize this stuff is going on. It's the one thing I admire most zoos for, educating the masses about the atrocities in the world and to see the beauty of the animal in person. Makes it real when you look into the eyes of all animals and truly see the beauty there and hopefully get people to help however they can.

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pamelasorin avatar
Pamela Sorin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so easy to judge from 'out in the ether.' Whether he was trying to protect the boy, or not, he was dragging the child through the water like a rag doll. To me, there is little question that the child was in danger. It is a horrible tragedy that the gorilla was put down, but the zoo staff had to make an immediate decision. For those of you who are shaming the mother, shame on you. Children are curious and act on their curiosity in the blink of an eye. No one can blame a parent more than they blame themselves when a horrible accident happens.

wojciechbiaek avatar
Wojciech Białek
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ofcourse we can blame the mother and we will! it's called responsibility, each parent is responsible for their children and if someone is not up to the task he shouldn't have kids.. easy as that!

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claudean avatar
Claudean Wheeler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this video 100 times and whether or not at one point the gorilla was holding hands with the boy is completely irrelevant. He was a male gorilla dragging the boy back and forth in the enclosure. The boy sustained injuries from this alone. The Cincinnati Zoo is a first -class facility and nothing like this has ever happened before. This was just a tragic accident. Plain and simple. No one was at fault. No one should be to blame. No one made the wrong decision.

a_ngua avatar
Angua Überwald
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This proved it is not "first -class facility". Parents failed and are to blame. It was tragic; luckily boy survived, but I don't see that lecture is learned.

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dianacrunchewywatson avatar
Diana CrunChewy Watson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that we're all sad that this beautiful animal was killed, and we want to call b******t all over the place. But let's try to tamper the emotion of the moment and think about this logically. These are zookeepers. Their whole existence is to protect these animals. I can't imagine they made that decision lightly. And I have to accept the fact that I know virtually nothing about gorilla behavior. If the zookeepers feel the animal was a danger to the baby (which has been supported by zoological experts who viewed the same video), then I need to accept they did the right thing. As for the parent, she apparently was wrangling several children that day, and the little one slipped away. It’s happened to me (luckily in Target and not at the zoo). It’s a tragic situation, but throwing blame and hate isn’t helping.

meganr981 avatar
Megan Robinson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You guys do know that the gorilla starting dragging the kid around, right?.

krectic avatar
norm alger
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That hand-holding moment was between 2 instances of the gorilla dragging the child by the leg through the water like a rag doll. The mother is an incompetent boob and caused the whole scenario to transpire due to her negligence. Direct your frustration at her, not the protocols in place to keep humans safe in such an environment. The dart would have been less safe, as the tranquilizer takes time to take effect. Time is nothing to play with in this case, people.

kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm concerned that the child's mother will not be charged. It excuses her negligence and gives the entire ordeal an air of "Oh, these things happen," when it was entirely preventable. I'm worried that the child will be put in danger again very soon, and the next time he might not be so lucky.

lukegabriel7 avatar
Kopitiam English
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is sad that Harambe had to be shot by the zoo officials. We as who have watched the video can make many conclusions but we can never conclusively say what goes on in the mind of Harambe. As much as I would have appreciated that the zoo had used tranqullizer rather than to shoot him, I guess drastic situations need drastic action....RIP Harambe.

suzi avatar
iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do but if they are free then they can be in even worse danger, it's horrible really that we can't even trust our own specie

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mazepeleda avatar
P'tite Stéph
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F*****g humans! He had instinct to protect him. And yes of course he was a bit "brutal" he was a gorilla not a nanny!!! Blet!!!

kathleenchan avatar
Kathleen Chan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This FB post share from a zookeeper may help put things in perspective why they didn't use any tranquilizers or other distraction methods. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1203379103029809&set=a.136952966339100.18704.100000731932790&type=3&theater It is just unfortunate that this happened and I believe no one (zookeepers and the boy's parents) wanted this. I believe that the zookeepers had considered all options before deciding to end the animal's life to save the boy. In another perspective, what happened if it's the other way round and the boy died instead? Are we to say that the parent's deserved it because they didn't look after their boy properly? Are we to blame the zookeepers for not trying to save the boy while trying to keep the life of a gorilla? No one likes to pull the trigger to end a life (ok maybe except some psychopaths), but I think that there is a lesson to be learned here; for the zoo to improved on the security and for parents to be more vigilant.

sulee_43221 avatar
Susan Riley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have mixed feelings about this. Remember, it wasn't YOUR child who was in the enclosure. (Actually, I'm surprised one of his parents didn't jump into the enclosure after him.) I understand people are upset that the gorilla was shot - I'm mad, too. But then I think how I'd feel if it was MY child down there. Would I feel the same?

aqua_rain56 avatar
Sarah Lennie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one has the right to judge the mother. If it was your child, you would want the safest option for your baby. It's a tragic situation.

katrinamclaughlindesigns avatar
Katrina McLaughlin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where were the boy's parents/guardians ? That is where the fault lies!

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

again a perfect mom who doesn't leave her kids from her sight at any time. Everyone know kids can be pretty quick...but he shouldn't have been possible from him to cross the fence if it was correctly done

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jessik avatar
Jessi K
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what people don't understand about gorillas is that they grab onto things to intimidate people. do your research before thinking differently

toemasie avatar
toemasie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorillas are smart. Especially if that Gorilla was raised by humans as a little baby. That gorilla didn't want to hurt the kid... he's got the strength of 15 men, so he could have accidentally hurt the child. The whole situation was just... bananas.

long_alex5 avatar
Art Triptic
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Until zoo have to exist should have stronger and more secure protection. I mean electric fence? Glass? Taller walls? Yes to keep any kind of human activity "surely" away from the cages! Then no excuses! If someone "gets in" someone pay for. In this particular case the guardians have taken the right decision. Situation was just like a russian roulette with a gun, now "YOU" take the stand and make your decision! Would anyone have took the risk not to shoot? I would personally have done same thing guardians did. On the other hand I hope parents get a heavy ticket! I won't be surprised if the zoo ask for damage of such a great loss... how much really cost the life of Harambe? Can really be excused, a parent from this kind of distraction? A parent said is a continuous work to keep an eye on kids; I want to ask him/her was really worth this lightness? Moral to me is both sides are responsible for what happened! That means only one thing: We, humans, did it!

nathanfeniak avatar
Nathan Feniak
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly this is horrible and it sucks that Harambe is dead, but lets just think about this from the zoo's perspective. The zoo could either kill a gorilla and have some animal rights people be upset for a few months and (honestly speaking) have it blow off in a few months like what happened with Cecil, OR they could do absolutely nothing and be charged for the murder of a child, have people fired, get in a deep heap of legal s*** and probably eventually have the entire zoo shut down (which would misplace much more then just one gorilla). Which of those sounds better. And they were holding hands just after the gorilla had dragged the kid underwater for a couple feet, and then about three times that distance afterwards. I'd have to side with the zoo. They choose the lesser of two evils here.

iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what is wrong with humanity we put the life of someone stupid above a magnificent beautiful endangered animal

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magicleon avatar
Leon Haslam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, I wouldn't I would want them to do the right thing. Plus what if they missed and shot the child or it didn't kill the gorilla in one

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olehagen avatar
Ole Hagen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They did the right decission. You can never know what animals will do. It is easy to say after it happened it was a wrong thing to do.

yjbyun95 avatar
Yong Jun Byun
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont think its right to blame the parents. What kind of parents in their right mind would calmly watch their child shaking hands with a gorilla?

speckio avatar
Karl Dhikayos
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ummm to me common sense would dictate you watch your 4 year child at all times while out in public. The reason why this happened was because the parents failed do so.

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arseniomanzanero avatar
Arsenio Manzanero
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stop humanizing a gorilla. No matter how protective a gorila could seems to be, It still a gorilla. That weights hundreds of pounds, that have overpowering strength. That gorilla actually could have killed the kid just by accident. Some people say that they could have used tranquilizers. But tranquilizers are not instantáneos. To make them instantaneous you have to use mortal huge dosis and do too many shots, that could startle the animal making the situation more dangerous for the kid. The zoo's fault is not really placed on they killing the gorilla, but in not having better security measures to avoid a kid being able to fall in the enclosure and the mother for not keeping him close. After the kid fell, everybody around was shouting and screaming, which only make things worse. The gorilla was really confused because of that (normally those places are not that noisy). The zoo staff have only seconds to do something to save a human life, an innocent human life, the kid's life.

skipper00123 avatar
Hicham Elothemany
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals don't know what holding hands is! The kid was in danger.. Live with it!

tylerrow12 avatar
Tyler Row
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you people really that heartless to put an animals life over a child. Sure. It's sad that the animal died. But a child's life is better.

h2hjastermereel avatar
Richard Hudson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you know that a Gorilla holding his hand means the same as a human? It could signal the Gorilla about to throw the boy? Not saying this was the case, but who are we to read it's intentions?

ambermayroselomax avatar
Amber May Rose Lomax
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gorilla look like he was trying to see a way to help the child back up so he was protecting the kid

andygs_84 avatar
Andy Ye
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can't they jus put him to sleep? In the zoo they should always prepare for things like this to happen!

mwangangig avatar
Michael Nzivo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.The railway linesmen of Indian origin carrying huge loads of iron rails and sleeper blocks would chant "har, har ambee!" (praise praise to Ambee mother) when working.

mlbauguess avatar
Matt Bauguess
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are only showing part of the video. See the whole thing where he drags him fast and hard like a rag doll. It's sickening that people are upset. The boy is safe that is all that matters

iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are upset because an endangered animal was killed, the kids life isn't all that matters humans may be smarter than other species but

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adiana avatar
adiana
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

does anyone know why the gorilla kept dragging the kid around?

wsparhawk avatar
William Sparhawk
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many children are killed by Gorillas each year. That fool Walsh is trying to justify the killing of the Gorilla by linking his death to abortions performed by humans. He is a dumb f**k!

alaurie1 avatar
Snarkygal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't judge by just the video. Yes, he was holding the child's hand. But he also dragged the child around the moat. But what happened after the video ends is what determined whether he was a danger to the child. I heard a eyewitness account on CNN of what happened and that beautiful animal WAS threatening to the little boy.

alaurie1 avatar
Snarkygal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, the little boy suffered a concussion from having his head slammed against the rocks while in Harambe's control. However, his mother should have been looking after the little one better. He had said he wanted to get into the enclosure and that is what he did. She should have taken him away from there when he said that.

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jusme72 avatar
Justine Conway
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a tough call! Who could have known what the outcome would have been? That poor child for whatever reason fell into the enclosure... So the parents are blamed in that instance... A preventative measure to stop that happening should be in place! Some education about a 'what if' situation arising would be good... The crowd shouting and screaming didn't help, it's human nature but a forewarning in an emergency to tell people to try and stay quiet if such a situation arises... Who knows? To me, I feel the gorilla was protecting the child and whipped him away like he would do with his own young in the same situation... They would be familiar with that but a scared child wouldn't be... No one knows for sure what the outcome would have been... So very sad that this happened, had to be a quick decision to save the child; although it may not have been necessary... Who knows in a split second decision? I blame the place for not being secure enough in the first place!

jessesmithrocks avatar
Jesse Smith
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tranquilizer didn't have time to take effect - sooo sad, they didn't have time to evaluate the situation.

juliette_odonnell_7 avatar
Juliette O'Donnell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May have been holding his hand h3re but what about when he was dragging the baby through water so forcefully by his leg. Sorry but he was being aggressive. Better an animal dead than the child

iamthemockingjay_rainbowdash avatar
iamthemockingjay_rainbowdash
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not a cry baby and I never cry. The only time I cry is when something unfair or terrible or both happens. This made me cry... :'(

daniel_daly_3557 avatar
Daniel Daly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Understand that in milliseconds that gorilla could have pulled that child apart. Literally A P A R T !!! PICK YOUR TRAGEDY !!!

iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are millions of humans but very little silverback gorillas anymore because of humans

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santyjazz avatar
Santiago Molina
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are no reasons to have Zoo's, that's the main problem. Why? Poor Harambe, what a life in a cage and what a death. Pretty pretty sad....

argh_barnes avatar
Jessica Barnes
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone criticising the parents or the decision to kill the animal are obviously delusional. Yes, the zookeepers should have definitely gambled on a huge animal "protecting" the child and not accidentally or deliberately killing it while everyone watches. They should have definitely waited until the child was dead. And then of course, not do anything after that because the deed was already done, no point killing or harming an animal as well.

veronicaglass avatar
Veronica Glass
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First , " it happened " that is already dramatic by the parents and the zoo! but then they kill it! WHY? I think this zoo has demonstrated its incompetence wide critical situation ! how is it that a child could fall ? feel it unreal and why the animal was not asleep? my first reaction is for the child, but I'm just touched by this whole nightmare !

veronicaglass avatar
Veronica Glass
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First , " it happened " that is already dramatic by the parents and the zoo! but then they kill it! WHY? I think this zoo has demonstrated its incompetence wide critical situation ! how is it that a child could fall ? feel it unreal and why the animal was not asleep? my first reaction is for the child, but I'm just touched by this whole nightmare !

ov3rk1ll avatar
David Dulude
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they had a split second to choose to shoot or not, its good looking at things in hindsight but really, anyone here would do the same thing to save the life of THEIR child, no one here would be like MEH let him crush my child into paste... dont act all high and mighty because you saw a video online, im glad the kid is safe and some other animals in the zoo got a good meal

ov3rk1ll avatar
David Dulude
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its great to see thing in hindsight but at the time it was a kill or not kill situation, they had no choice but to put it down, how did they know he was protecting anyone? they didnt, this b******t of everyone freaking out over a death of an animal that can crush that child into a small paste is f*****g insane, its like those people who blame cops for shooting people because HE HAD A B B GUN. the animal is dead, get over it

rebeccablaineart avatar
Rebecca Blaine
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it was my grandaughter being pulled around. I'd be so scared for her life. I'd choose my grandaughter over any animal but also human being. If a human posed a threat to another human...wouldn't we shoot them? I can't really tell by the gorillas facial expressions what hus agenda was....to make a comment that the child was fine. I wouldn't take that risk. Am I saying human life is more important than an animal's? Then NO. Would I say my grandaughter is more important to me to be kept safe, away from danger.. at all costs? Then yes! Be it threat by animal, human beast or other. To the zoo and the boys parents. ..they could not take the chance ....it was a extreme encounter for all involved. Tensions extremely high. What's the tight thing to do? Wait and see? If tranqulizer gun would have worked effectively to save the boy....that was their error. ...they shoukd have tried to save both boy snd gorilla.

a_j_mitschele avatar
Amanda Mitschele
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's very sad that they had to kill the gorilla but they had to act. The problem with tranquilizers is they take time to work. Especially on a gorilla this size. Think about when you get anesthesia it takes some time to kick in before your out. We will never know what was going through the mind of the gorilla but when it comes to the child's life it's more important than the gorillas

christianhill avatar
Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why is a child's life more important? There are tens of millions of kids, gorillas not so much

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Btsy Taylor
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw newsreel of the fence - it looks like it comes up to the waist of an adult. They even showed a kid who had hopped up and was sitting on top of it with his back to the enclosure. This can't be standard in zoos, can it?

johanna_c_white avatar
Johanna White
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

um.. so why did you edit out the first part of the video where he was dragging the kind around at lightening pace through the water, by his ankle? I'm not saying the Gorilla was aggressive of not, but this is deliberately misleading.

mathenora avatar
Nóra Máthé
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is tragic and we can be seriously angry at the parents for being careless enough to have their child fall into that area. It is definitely their fault. But you can't be angry at the zoo because they had to act fast and had to save that child. You can argue many different theories, but if we had seen the child being killed by that gorilla, you'd be up in arms against the zoo anyway. I think it's kind of a stupid argument to say that the gorilla was trying to protect the child or whatever noble acts because even if he was, he was still hurting that child by dragging him around under water (btw the 4 year old most likely couldn't swim either). And they couldn't tranquilize him because it wouldn't have been fast enough. So, yeah... I am deeply sorry that a poor gorilla had to be put down like this, it breaks my heart. But we have to understand that the zookeepers knew much better than how we assume we know.

claudean avatar
Claudean Wheeler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's also worth mentioning that the gorilla was male. Their job in nature is to protect their family and they're known to be aggressive. They've also been known to kill baby gorillas that aren't part of their family. It's my understanding that when they introduce baby gorillas in captivity, they're introduced to the females long before the males for this reason. That kid didn't stand a chance and the animal handlers at the zoo did the right thing.

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Rosi Bohm
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sad... but the fault lies with the parents. The zoo had to make a fast decision. A gorilla is a powerful animal. I didn´t think it tried to harm the child intentionally. But for me it is clear that the boy must have been scared.

nicolek avatar
Nicole K
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let us not judge about the behavior of the animal. It might look like it was holding hands with the kid, but in fact we don't know. He might saw the kid as something to play with. A full grown male silverback weighs up to 350 lb . A slide stroke or "holding hands" can cause serous injury.

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Valerie Sellen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the parents in zoo's they have WILD animals children are parents responsibility... The zoo are damned if they do or damned if they don't... Parents need to take responsibility of their children at all times...

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Amparito Lleras
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bull c**p...he was moving the child away from the load crazy crowd!!!!!

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Natalie Valenzuela
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sad the gorilla didn't deserve to die. Maybe the gorilla was going to kill the boy, but this could have been stopped. The parents could have taken better care of the boy.

bellabarrera avatar
Isabella Barrera
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just don't get why isn't it much easier to shoot a tranquilliser dart??? Why always the need of using fire arms in the slight glimpse of panic. The gorilla wasn't doing anything to the boy and he probably wouldn't have done anything, you see. He is more human than us.... Or at least his actions were. If a tranquilliser was used both would be here now not just one member of our species .

avashah avatar
Ava Shah
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoo officials stated that tranquilizers work slowly and that the gorilla most likely would have become aggravated - which would have presented a greater danger to the child.

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.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm concerned that the mother is not being charged. It almost excuses her actions, and gives it an air of "Oh, these things happen." I feel like the child will be put in danger again very soon, and the next time he might not be so lucky.

dlongfils avatar
David Longfils
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely disgusting! Why could they not tranquilise the gorilla. The zookeepers should be charged with murder and the child's mother charged with neglect. The gorilla was supposedly in a protected environment and had more right to be there than the kid.

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CupcakeQueen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tranquilizer could take up to, or more, than 5 minutes to take effect. It would also just make the gorilla more uncomfortable and angry, ultimately putting the child at more risk.

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Hillary Bowden
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoos exist for a good reason. Scientific studies provide useful info that can help maintain endangered species. I remember having close contact with an orangutan at the San Diego Zoo - makes you understand what noble creatures they are... Don't be too quick to judge.

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Puddin Tane
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looked to me, like Harambe was just checking the child over for injuries the way he might with one of his own youngsters.

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Mairim Limardo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The mom was not looking after her kid, but what about the security in the zoo??!!

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Hannah Wang
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's tragic... can't blame zoo keeper for shooting... It'd be too late if the animal showed aggression... parents shouldn't hold on to their kids... zoo should build a secondary net...

christianhill avatar
Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think people are responding emotionally and not critically. They were not holding hands. The zoo made the correct decision. Don't like it? Don't go to zoos.

christianhill avatar
Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol - the PETA people are out today. Holding hands? It amazes me how people will bend over backwards to try and project human traits on other animals. They were cuddling!!!! The zoo made the right call.

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Hope Elmore
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love animals but this child was in danger. The gorilla pulled and yanked the child through the water like a rag doll. Should the parents have been watching the child closer? Absolutely!! But the child comes before the gorilla! The parents should have had a hand on the child at lol times. He is three years old and if they cannot hold his hand while at a public place then he should be in a stroller. But yes , the zoo did the right thing in shooting the gorilla.

car45208 avatar
Dennis Riedel
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Child safety first, even though parents were at fault for not watching closer! No animal is worth a child's life! No one knows what might have happened! Zoo officials made a decision they thought best! Let go of the judgement! Tragic, but child is safe!

christianhill avatar
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Emi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tranquilizers take too long to work and the gorilla could hurt the child before it works.

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just be
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there is only sadness with this story...ALL zoos should be closed immediately :(

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Teleri Nyfain
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could they not have used tranquilizer guns? Just a thought...

bellabarrera avatar
Isabella Barrera
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just don't u deal why not using a tranquilliser was a better solution? Why always the need for fire arms at the slight glimpse of panic? The gorilla wasn't doing anything to the boy and probably wouldn't have done anything to him. He was more human in his actions than we were in ours. If a tranquilliser had been used both of them would still be here, not just one. After all the gorilla was better at preserving the species than us.

emi-worstell avatar
Emi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tranquilizer would take 5 minutes and could agitate the gorilla which could lead to more harm to the child

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Martin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor Kid... he was just looking for a father figure

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Aleksandra Rybińska
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this is going to sound harsh, but it's jus a gorilla. People go crazy because of the death of an animal, nearly suggesting that it would have been better to take chances on the child's life "cause it's the stupid parent's fault anyway". So what? If the child would have died they would have gotten what they deserve? That's allmost how this discussion sounds to me. I'ma an animal lover but the world has gone bonkers to me on the subject of animals. People go nuts over the death of a gorilla but find abortion just fine. Children dying in Africa, euthanasia for children in the Netherlands and Belgium? No problem. But kicking a dog, shooting a gorilla? How terrible...animals have become an obsession in the wealthy hedonistic west, that's what worries me

elisew129 avatar
Autumn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not the gorilla, it's the concept. People are willing to use guns and show acts of brutal violence when there might be another way.

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richkhola06
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The zoo keepers made the right decision! No one should ever take a chance with human life! Humans are the most important specie in this planet! I salute these zoo keepers for not taking any chance with the kid's life!

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Grace Dalton
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Human lives are ALWAYS more valuable than humans'. Innocent HUMANS are dying in far more suffering than this gorilla experience in it's whole life because of global poverty. Why aren't we more concerned about them? This gorilla would have been dead within moments - as are pets that have to be put down, and animals in the meat industry. I truly love animals, and obviously it would have been better if their killings weren't necessary. But in this instance, it was.

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Mark Scott
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorilla was doing a better job of looking after the kid than the mom was

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Linn Tara Lenby
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sad part here is that if the crowd hadn't been shouting and screaming and making so much noise, the gorilla most likely wouldn't have freaked out.

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Vanessa
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah that's sad, why people have to scream like this when something happens, it never helps

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praveen dhamija
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why Zoo administration didn't use tranquillizer gun to make him unconscious instead of killing?

barboraszulcov avatar
Barbora Szulcová
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They 'say' it could cause more danger to that kid, but really? When they shot him dead he could fall at him as well.

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Mircea T
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of many reasons why animals should not live their life in cages. Few weeks ago a lion has been shot because an idiot wanted to die..

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Cassandra Misale
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why kill the lion when the lion was probably scared and protecting his home. I really doubt someone would go and do the same thing. And if someone really wants to get killed by a lion, others would surely do the same thing. We are not safer because the lion is dead.

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DarkLumiya
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they should have shot the irresponsible parent instead. all zoos should shut down and it should just be safaris or something. somewhere where idiotic humans can't easily fall in or come in close contact with these poor animals

rishitarane avatar
Attack On Titan Is Awesome
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your so right actually. Just because a human fell in there the poor gorilla was shot and they "saved" the child. Unbelievable.

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Shruti Naik
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Faced with that situation maybe I would've made the same decision.. but think about this.. you get a creature out of his natural habitat, put him in captivity for human entertainment and then kill him because he seemed dangerous...who is dangerous? us; the human beings...

valerie_sellen avatar
Valerie Sellen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The animal of course he is wild it's the irresponsible parents that are dangerous just ignorant!!

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Katinka Min
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One Gorilla gets shot in a zoo => huge outrage. Gorillas get extinct because we destroy their habitat for oil and gold => hardly anyone cares. Orang Utangs become extinct because their habitat is destroyed for palm oil => not even a twitch, most people don't even know. I'm not sure what annoys me more: the hypocrisy or the idiocy of these 'outraged' people.

54360d54ca380 avatar
Cassandra Misale
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately people don't realize this stuff is going on. It's the one thing I admire most zoos for, educating the masses about the atrocities in the world and to see the beauty of the animal in person. Makes it real when you look into the eyes of all animals and truly see the beauty there and hopefully get people to help however they can.

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Pamela Sorin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so easy to judge from 'out in the ether.' Whether he was trying to protect the boy, or not, he was dragging the child through the water like a rag doll. To me, there is little question that the child was in danger. It is a horrible tragedy that the gorilla was put down, but the zoo staff had to make an immediate decision. For those of you who are shaming the mother, shame on you. Children are curious and act on their curiosity in the blink of an eye. No one can blame a parent more than they blame themselves when a horrible accident happens.

wojciechbiaek avatar
Wojciech Białek
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ofcourse we can blame the mother and we will! it's called responsibility, each parent is responsible for their children and if someone is not up to the task he shouldn't have kids.. easy as that!

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Claudean Wheeler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this video 100 times and whether or not at one point the gorilla was holding hands with the boy is completely irrelevant. He was a male gorilla dragging the boy back and forth in the enclosure. The boy sustained injuries from this alone. The Cincinnati Zoo is a first -class facility and nothing like this has ever happened before. This was just a tragic accident. Plain and simple. No one was at fault. No one should be to blame. No one made the wrong decision.

a_ngua avatar
Angua Überwald
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This proved it is not "first -class facility". Parents failed and are to blame. It was tragic; luckily boy survived, but I don't see that lecture is learned.

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Diana CrunChewy Watson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that we're all sad that this beautiful animal was killed, and we want to call b******t all over the place. But let's try to tamper the emotion of the moment and think about this logically. These are zookeepers. Their whole existence is to protect these animals. I can't imagine they made that decision lightly. And I have to accept the fact that I know virtually nothing about gorilla behavior. If the zookeepers feel the animal was a danger to the baby (which has been supported by zoological experts who viewed the same video), then I need to accept they did the right thing. As for the parent, she apparently was wrangling several children that day, and the little one slipped away. It’s happened to me (luckily in Target and not at the zoo). It’s a tragic situation, but throwing blame and hate isn’t helping.

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Megan Robinson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You guys do know that the gorilla starting dragging the kid around, right?.

krectic avatar
norm alger
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That hand-holding moment was between 2 instances of the gorilla dragging the child by the leg through the water like a rag doll. The mother is an incompetent boob and caused the whole scenario to transpire due to her negligence. Direct your frustration at her, not the protocols in place to keep humans safe in such an environment. The dart would have been less safe, as the tranquilizer takes time to take effect. Time is nothing to play with in this case, people.

kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm concerned that the child's mother will not be charged. It excuses her negligence and gives the entire ordeal an air of "Oh, these things happen," when it was entirely preventable. I'm worried that the child will be put in danger again very soon, and the next time he might not be so lucky.

lukegabriel7 avatar
Kopitiam English
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is sad that Harambe had to be shot by the zoo officials. We as who have watched the video can make many conclusions but we can never conclusively say what goes on in the mind of Harambe. As much as I would have appreciated that the zoo had used tranqullizer rather than to shoot him, I guess drastic situations need drastic action....RIP Harambe.

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iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do but if they are free then they can be in even worse danger, it's horrible really that we can't even trust our own specie

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P'tite Stéph
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F*****g humans! He had instinct to protect him. And yes of course he was a bit "brutal" he was a gorilla not a nanny!!! Blet!!!

kathleenchan avatar
Kathleen Chan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This FB post share from a zookeeper may help put things in perspective why they didn't use any tranquilizers or other distraction methods. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1203379103029809&set=a.136952966339100.18704.100000731932790&type=3&theater It is just unfortunate that this happened and I believe no one (zookeepers and the boy's parents) wanted this. I believe that the zookeepers had considered all options before deciding to end the animal's life to save the boy. In another perspective, what happened if it's the other way round and the boy died instead? Are we to say that the parent's deserved it because they didn't look after their boy properly? Are we to blame the zookeepers for not trying to save the boy while trying to keep the life of a gorilla? No one likes to pull the trigger to end a life (ok maybe except some psychopaths), but I think that there is a lesson to be learned here; for the zoo to improved on the security and for parents to be more vigilant.

sulee_43221 avatar
Susan Riley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have mixed feelings about this. Remember, it wasn't YOUR child who was in the enclosure. (Actually, I'm surprised one of his parents didn't jump into the enclosure after him.) I understand people are upset that the gorilla was shot - I'm mad, too. But then I think how I'd feel if it was MY child down there. Would I feel the same?

aqua_rain56 avatar
Sarah Lennie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one has the right to judge the mother. If it was your child, you would want the safest option for your baby. It's a tragic situation.

katrinamclaughlindesigns avatar
Katrina McLaughlin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where were the boy's parents/guardians ? That is where the fault lies!

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

again a perfect mom who doesn't leave her kids from her sight at any time. Everyone know kids can be pretty quick...but he shouldn't have been possible from him to cross the fence if it was correctly done

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Jessi K
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what people don't understand about gorillas is that they grab onto things to intimidate people. do your research before thinking differently

toemasie avatar
toemasie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorillas are smart. Especially if that Gorilla was raised by humans as a little baby. That gorilla didn't want to hurt the kid... he's got the strength of 15 men, so he could have accidentally hurt the child. The whole situation was just... bananas.

long_alex5 avatar
Art Triptic
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Until zoo have to exist should have stronger and more secure protection. I mean electric fence? Glass? Taller walls? Yes to keep any kind of human activity "surely" away from the cages! Then no excuses! If someone "gets in" someone pay for. In this particular case the guardians have taken the right decision. Situation was just like a russian roulette with a gun, now "YOU" take the stand and make your decision! Would anyone have took the risk not to shoot? I would personally have done same thing guardians did. On the other hand I hope parents get a heavy ticket! I won't be surprised if the zoo ask for damage of such a great loss... how much really cost the life of Harambe? Can really be excused, a parent from this kind of distraction? A parent said is a continuous work to keep an eye on kids; I want to ask him/her was really worth this lightness? Moral to me is both sides are responsible for what happened! That means only one thing: We, humans, did it!

nathanfeniak avatar
Nathan Feniak
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly this is horrible and it sucks that Harambe is dead, but lets just think about this from the zoo's perspective. The zoo could either kill a gorilla and have some animal rights people be upset for a few months and (honestly speaking) have it blow off in a few months like what happened with Cecil, OR they could do absolutely nothing and be charged for the murder of a child, have people fired, get in a deep heap of legal s*** and probably eventually have the entire zoo shut down (which would misplace much more then just one gorilla). Which of those sounds better. And they were holding hands just after the gorilla had dragged the kid underwater for a couple feet, and then about three times that distance afterwards. I'd have to side with the zoo. They choose the lesser of two evils here.

iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what is wrong with humanity we put the life of someone stupid above a magnificent beautiful endangered animal

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magicleon avatar
Leon Haslam
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, I wouldn't I would want them to do the right thing. Plus what if they missed and shot the child or it didn't kill the gorilla in one

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Ole Hagen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They did the right decission. You can never know what animals will do. It is easy to say after it happened it was a wrong thing to do.

yjbyun95 avatar
Yong Jun Byun
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont think its right to blame the parents. What kind of parents in their right mind would calmly watch their child shaking hands with a gorilla?

speckio avatar
Karl Dhikayos
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ummm to me common sense would dictate you watch your 4 year child at all times while out in public. The reason why this happened was because the parents failed do so.

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Arsenio Manzanero
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stop humanizing a gorilla. No matter how protective a gorila could seems to be, It still a gorilla. That weights hundreds of pounds, that have overpowering strength. That gorilla actually could have killed the kid just by accident. Some people say that they could have used tranquilizers. But tranquilizers are not instantáneos. To make them instantaneous you have to use mortal huge dosis and do too many shots, that could startle the animal making the situation more dangerous for the kid. The zoo's fault is not really placed on they killing the gorilla, but in not having better security measures to avoid a kid being able to fall in the enclosure and the mother for not keeping him close. After the kid fell, everybody around was shouting and screaming, which only make things worse. The gorilla was really confused because of that (normally those places are not that noisy). The zoo staff have only seconds to do something to save a human life, an innocent human life, the kid's life.

skipper00123 avatar
Hicham Elothemany
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals don't know what holding hands is! The kid was in danger.. Live with it!

tylerrow12 avatar
Tyler Row
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you people really that heartless to put an animals life over a child. Sure. It's sad that the animal died. But a child's life is better.

h2hjastermereel avatar
Richard Hudson
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you know that a Gorilla holding his hand means the same as a human? It could signal the Gorilla about to throw the boy? Not saying this was the case, but who are we to read it's intentions?

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Amber May Rose Lomax
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gorilla look like he was trying to see a way to help the child back up so he was protecting the kid

andygs_84 avatar
Andy Ye
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can't they jus put him to sleep? In the zoo they should always prepare for things like this to happen!

mwangangig avatar
Michael Nzivo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.The railway linesmen of Indian origin carrying huge loads of iron rails and sleeper blocks would chant "har, har ambee!" (praise praise to Ambee mother) when working.

mlbauguess avatar
Matt Bauguess
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are only showing part of the video. See the whole thing where he drags him fast and hard like a rag doll. It's sickening that people are upset. The boy is safe that is all that matters

iggygator avatar
Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are upset because an endangered animal was killed, the kids life isn't all that matters humans may be smarter than other species but

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adiana avatar
adiana
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

does anyone know why the gorilla kept dragging the kid around?

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William Sparhawk
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many children are killed by Gorillas each year. That fool Walsh is trying to justify the killing of the Gorilla by linking his death to abortions performed by humans. He is a dumb f**k!

alaurie1 avatar
Snarkygal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't judge by just the video. Yes, he was holding the child's hand. But he also dragged the child around the moat. But what happened after the video ends is what determined whether he was a danger to the child. I heard a eyewitness account on CNN of what happened and that beautiful animal WAS threatening to the little boy.

alaurie1 avatar
Snarkygal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, the little boy suffered a concussion from having his head slammed against the rocks while in Harambe's control. However, his mother should have been looking after the little one better. He had said he wanted to get into the enclosure and that is what he did. She should have taken him away from there when he said that.

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Justine Conway
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a tough call! Who could have known what the outcome would have been? That poor child for whatever reason fell into the enclosure... So the parents are blamed in that instance... A preventative measure to stop that happening should be in place! Some education about a 'what if' situation arising would be good... The crowd shouting and screaming didn't help, it's human nature but a forewarning in an emergency to tell people to try and stay quiet if such a situation arises... Who knows? To me, I feel the gorilla was protecting the child and whipped him away like he would do with his own young in the same situation... They would be familiar with that but a scared child wouldn't be... No one knows for sure what the outcome would have been... So very sad that this happened, had to be a quick decision to save the child; although it may not have been necessary... Who knows in a split second decision? I blame the place for not being secure enough in the first place!

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Jesse Smith
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tranquilizer didn't have time to take effect - sooo sad, they didn't have time to evaluate the situation.

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Juliette O'Donnell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May have been holding his hand h3re but what about when he was dragging the baby through water so forcefully by his leg. Sorry but he was being aggressive. Better an animal dead than the child

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iamthemockingjay_rainbowdash
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not a cry baby and I never cry. The only time I cry is when something unfair or terrible or both happens. This made me cry... :'(

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Daniel Daly
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Understand that in milliseconds that gorilla could have pulled that child apart. Literally A P A R T !!! PICK YOUR TRAGEDY !!!

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Norah Morris
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are millions of humans but very little silverback gorillas anymore because of humans

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Santiago Molina
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are no reasons to have Zoo's, that's the main problem. Why? Poor Harambe, what a life in a cage and what a death. Pretty pretty sad....

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Jessica Barnes
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone criticising the parents or the decision to kill the animal are obviously delusional. Yes, the zookeepers should have definitely gambled on a huge animal "protecting" the child and not accidentally or deliberately killing it while everyone watches. They should have definitely waited until the child was dead. And then of course, not do anything after that because the deed was already done, no point killing or harming an animal as well.

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Veronica Glass
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First , " it happened " that is already dramatic by the parents and the zoo! but then they kill it! WHY? I think this zoo has demonstrated its incompetence wide critical situation ! how is it that a child could fall ? feel it unreal and why the animal was not asleep? my first reaction is for the child, but I'm just touched by this whole nightmare !

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Veronica Glass
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First , " it happened " that is already dramatic by the parents and the zoo! but then they kill it! WHY? I think this zoo has demonstrated its incompetence wide critical situation ! how is it that a child could fall ? feel it unreal and why the animal was not asleep? my first reaction is for the child, but I'm just touched by this whole nightmare !

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David Dulude
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they had a split second to choose to shoot or not, its good looking at things in hindsight but really, anyone here would do the same thing to save the life of THEIR child, no one here would be like MEH let him crush my child into paste... dont act all high and mighty because you saw a video online, im glad the kid is safe and some other animals in the zoo got a good meal

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David Dulude
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its great to see thing in hindsight but at the time it was a kill or not kill situation, they had no choice but to put it down, how did they know he was protecting anyone? they didnt, this b******t of everyone freaking out over a death of an animal that can crush that child into a small paste is f*****g insane, its like those people who blame cops for shooting people because HE HAD A B B GUN. the animal is dead, get over it

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Rebecca Blaine
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it was my grandaughter being pulled around. I'd be so scared for her life. I'd choose my grandaughter over any animal but also human being. If a human posed a threat to another human...wouldn't we shoot them? I can't really tell by the gorillas facial expressions what hus agenda was....to make a comment that the child was fine. I wouldn't take that risk. Am I saying human life is more important than an animal's? Then NO. Would I say my grandaughter is more important to me to be kept safe, away from danger.. at all costs? Then yes! Be it threat by animal, human beast or other. To the zoo and the boys parents. ..they could not take the chance ....it was a extreme encounter for all involved. Tensions extremely high. What's the tight thing to do? Wait and see? If tranqulizer gun would have worked effectively to save the boy....that was their error. ...they shoukd have tried to save both boy snd gorilla.

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Amanda Mitschele
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's very sad that they had to kill the gorilla but they had to act. The problem with tranquilizers is they take time to work. Especially on a gorilla this size. Think about when you get anesthesia it takes some time to kick in before your out. We will never know what was going through the mind of the gorilla but when it comes to the child's life it's more important than the gorillas

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Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why is a child's life more important? There are tens of millions of kids, gorillas not so much

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Btsy Taylor
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw newsreel of the fence - it looks like it comes up to the waist of an adult. They even showed a kid who had hopped up and was sitting on top of it with his back to the enclosure. This can't be standard in zoos, can it?

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Johanna White
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

um.. so why did you edit out the first part of the video where he was dragging the kind around at lightening pace through the water, by his ankle? I'm not saying the Gorilla was aggressive of not, but this is deliberately misleading.

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Nóra Máthé
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is tragic and we can be seriously angry at the parents for being careless enough to have their child fall into that area. It is definitely their fault. But you can't be angry at the zoo because they had to act fast and had to save that child. You can argue many different theories, but if we had seen the child being killed by that gorilla, you'd be up in arms against the zoo anyway. I think it's kind of a stupid argument to say that the gorilla was trying to protect the child or whatever noble acts because even if he was, he was still hurting that child by dragging him around under water (btw the 4 year old most likely couldn't swim either). And they couldn't tranquilize him because it wouldn't have been fast enough. So, yeah... I am deeply sorry that a poor gorilla had to be put down like this, it breaks my heart. But we have to understand that the zookeepers knew much better than how we assume we know.

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Claudean Wheeler
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's also worth mentioning that the gorilla was male. Their job in nature is to protect their family and they're known to be aggressive. They've also been known to kill baby gorillas that aren't part of their family. It's my understanding that when they introduce baby gorillas in captivity, they're introduced to the females long before the males for this reason. That kid didn't stand a chance and the animal handlers at the zoo did the right thing.

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Rosi Bohm
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sad... but the fault lies with the parents. The zoo had to make a fast decision. A gorilla is a powerful animal. I didn´t think it tried to harm the child intentionally. But for me it is clear that the boy must have been scared.

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Nicole K
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let us not judge about the behavior of the animal. It might look like it was holding hands with the kid, but in fact we don't know. He might saw the kid as something to play with. A full grown male silverback weighs up to 350 lb . A slide stroke or "holding hands" can cause serous injury.

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Valerie Sellen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the parents in zoo's they have WILD animals children are parents responsibility... The zoo are damned if they do or damned if they don't... Parents need to take responsibility of their children at all times...

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Amparito Lleras
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bull c**p...he was moving the child away from the load crazy crowd!!!!!

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Natalie Valenzuela
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sad the gorilla didn't deserve to die. Maybe the gorilla was going to kill the boy, but this could have been stopped. The parents could have taken better care of the boy.

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Isabella Barrera
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just don't get why isn't it much easier to shoot a tranquilliser dart??? Why always the need of using fire arms in the slight glimpse of panic. The gorilla wasn't doing anything to the boy and he probably wouldn't have done anything, you see. He is more human than us.... Or at least his actions were. If a tranquilliser was used both would be here now not just one member of our species .

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Ava Shah
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoo officials stated that tranquilizers work slowly and that the gorilla most likely would have become aggravated - which would have presented a greater danger to the child.

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.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm concerned that the mother is not being charged. It almost excuses her actions, and gives it an air of "Oh, these things happen." I feel like the child will be put in danger again very soon, and the next time he might not be so lucky.

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David Longfils
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely disgusting! Why could they not tranquilise the gorilla. The zookeepers should be charged with murder and the child's mother charged with neglect. The gorilla was supposedly in a protected environment and had more right to be there than the kid.

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CupcakeQueen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tranquilizer could take up to, or more, than 5 minutes to take effect. It would also just make the gorilla more uncomfortable and angry, ultimately putting the child at more risk.

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Hillary Bowden
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoos exist for a good reason. Scientific studies provide useful info that can help maintain endangered species. I remember having close contact with an orangutan at the San Diego Zoo - makes you understand what noble creatures they are... Don't be too quick to judge.

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Puddin Tane
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looked to me, like Harambe was just checking the child over for injuries the way he might with one of his own youngsters.

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Mairim Limardo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The mom was not looking after her kid, but what about the security in the zoo??!!

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Hannah Wang
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's tragic... can't blame zoo keeper for shooting... It'd be too late if the animal showed aggression... parents shouldn't hold on to their kids... zoo should build a secondary net...

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Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think people are responding emotionally and not critically. They were not holding hands. The zoo made the correct decision. Don't like it? Don't go to zoos.

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Christian Hill
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol - the PETA people are out today. Holding hands? It amazes me how people will bend over backwards to try and project human traits on other animals. They were cuddling!!!! The zoo made the right call.

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Hope Elmore
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love animals but this child was in danger. The gorilla pulled and yanked the child through the water like a rag doll. Should the parents have been watching the child closer? Absolutely!! But the child comes before the gorilla! The parents should have had a hand on the child at lol times. He is three years old and if they cannot hold his hand while at a public place then he should be in a stroller. But yes , the zoo did the right thing in shooting the gorilla.

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Dennis Riedel
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Child safety first, even though parents were at fault for not watching closer! No animal is worth a child's life! No one knows what might have happened! Zoo officials made a decision they thought best! Let go of the judgement! Tragic, but child is safe!

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Emi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tranquilizers take too long to work and the gorilla could hurt the child before it works.

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just be
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there is only sadness with this story...ALL zoos should be closed immediately :(

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Teleri Nyfain
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could they not have used tranquilizer guns? Just a thought...

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Isabella Barrera
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just don't u deal why not using a tranquilliser was a better solution? Why always the need for fire arms at the slight glimpse of panic? The gorilla wasn't doing anything to the boy and probably wouldn't have done anything to him. He was more human in his actions than we were in ours. If a tranquilliser had been used both of them would still be here, not just one. After all the gorilla was better at preserving the species than us.

emi-worstell avatar
Emi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tranquilizer would take 5 minutes and could agitate the gorilla which could lead to more harm to the child

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Martin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor Kid... he was just looking for a father figure

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Aleksandra Rybińska
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this is going to sound harsh, but it's jus a gorilla. People go crazy because of the death of an animal, nearly suggesting that it would have been better to take chances on the child's life "cause it's the stupid parent's fault anyway". So what? If the child would have died they would have gotten what they deserve? That's allmost how this discussion sounds to me. I'ma an animal lover but the world has gone bonkers to me on the subject of animals. People go nuts over the death of a gorilla but find abortion just fine. Children dying in Africa, euthanasia for children in the Netherlands and Belgium? No problem. But kicking a dog, shooting a gorilla? How terrible...animals have become an obsession in the wealthy hedonistic west, that's what worries me

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Autumn
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not the gorilla, it's the concept. People are willing to use guns and show acts of brutal violence when there might be another way.

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richkhola06
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The zoo keepers made the right decision! No one should ever take a chance with human life! Humans are the most important specie in this planet! I salute these zoo keepers for not taking any chance with the kid's life!

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Grace Dalton
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Human lives are ALWAYS more valuable than humans'. Innocent HUMANS are dying in far more suffering than this gorilla experience in it's whole life because of global poverty. Why aren't we more concerned about them? This gorilla would have been dead within moments - as are pets that have to be put down, and animals in the meat industry. I truly love animals, and obviously it would have been better if their killings weren't necessary. But in this instance, it was.

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