Endangered Gorilla shot to protect young boy

[LeeHelm]

I saw nothing that suggested anything indicating harm to the boy either. The problem is how to get the kid separated from the gorilla who probably surmises the kid was abandoned. I would have hoped the gorilla could be tranquillized but it's reaction to the darts before loosing consciousness could be dangerously unpredictable.

Bottom line - the gorilla was probably shot simply because he cared.

We had a large male gorilla here at out local zoo. I worked at the zoo as a docent so you got to hear a lot of stories about the animals. This was back in the days when animals were in a cage with bars. A lot of people are cruel and would enjoy throwing things at the gorilla. It was a big process to clean his cage so they trained him if something was thrown into the cage, he would pick it up, bring it to the bars and drop it, they would give him a treat. Well the doctor showed for the gorilla's physical. The doc shot him with a dart and the dart later fell out. Groggily, the gorilla picked up the dart and stumbled to the bars. Dropped the dart. He wanted his treat.

 

[LeeHelm]

The last time SO and I went to a zoo was a couple of years ago in Washington, and despite the fact that it is a world-class institution, we left the place with a sense of remorse. We've both concluded that while there is a place for organizations that save species from extinction, we feel uncomfortable seeing intelligent creatures like gorillas and chimps kept in cages for our amusement.

These new enclosures really reinforce that feeling at least in me. I was able to get up close in the years where there were bars and I know the feeling you are mentioning. Later I visited the zoo when they moved to the modern exhibits. Part of our gorilla exhibit has glass where you can really get up close. There was a female just on the other side of the glass. Looking into her eyes you could tell that there was someting going on behind them. It was really kind of sad.

 

[IM469]

Amazing! I had no idea how educated TERB members were on the thought process of a gorilla. I can't figure out what the person standing next to me in line at the supermarket is thinking and were both humans!

Well I find that amazing that you have so little perception on the people and creatures around you. As for people in line - you can't tell if they are happy, sad, angry .. ditto the person serving you ? You can't tell if a dog that you are looking at is happy, afraid, angry ? How about cats ? Nothing ... really ? You have no clue by the interactions of any intelligent animal to it's mood ? Looking at the gorilla gently approaching the little boy - you can't tell if that is the reaction of an angry terrified gorilla ... not even a guess ?

I suggest that the gorilla isn't radically different in displaying many primal emotions that a reasonable guess can't be made - at least by some of us.

 

[LeeHelm]

Kudos to the staff for finding a way to keep him safe. If it was a human child raised in similar conditions I doubt the outcome would be any different.

I would not have wanted to been the one taking that shot. First these zoo keepers get very attached to these animals. It would be like shooting a family member. But most important, what if something went wrong and you shot the kid? These people are well trained but still.

 

[lakeboy1]

Well I find that amazing that you have so little perception on the people and creatures around you. As for people in line - you can't tell if they are happy, sad, angry .. ditto the person serving you ? You can't tell if a dog that you are looking at is happy, afraid, angry ? How about cats ? Nothing ... really ? You have no clue by the interactions of any intelligent animal to it's mood ? Looking at the gorilla gently approaching the little boy - you can't tell if that is the reaction of an angry terrified gorilla ... not even a guess ?

I suggest that the gorilla isn't radically different in displaying many primal emotions that a reasonable guess can't be made - at least by some of us.

Really? You can tell what a cat is feeling? Who are you, Ace Ventura? No I don't know what a gorilla is thinking. Neither do you. You are just guessing. Sigfried and Roy worked with the same wild animals for years and did not see that attack coming. I'm not saying the gorilla was going to attack, I'm just saying it's still a wild animal and you can never be certain. Unless of course you're a Terb member, then you know everything

 

[IM469]

Really? You can tell what a cat is feeling? Who are you, Ace Ventura?

I can tell if a cat is frightened or content - most people can. You don't have to have a Harvard degree in animal studies to observe fundamental behaviour in animals. I get it - you have absolutely no idea looking at a cat if it is ready to scratch your eyes out or if it is content. Unless the cat can speak English or write down it's thoughts - the behaviour of the cat, any animal or human is a complete mystery to you. Is it frightening not to be able to figure out if a dog is ready to attack or welcoming a pat ? Or the smiling doorman is about to beat you ... all mysteries because you can't read simple body language but need the detailed thoughts in their minds to figure out their mood.

As for Terb members knowing everything - since you are a terb member, I suggest you just supplied an effective rebuttal to your own statement.

I don't know if this will help you - this is not the actions of a terrified 400 lb gorilla :
'New video footage of Harambe shows the 400-pound gorilla HOLDING HANDS with the boy who fell into exhibition moat..'

'The clip shows Harambe standing guard in the corner of the moat (left, with the boy behind Harambe), and witnesses said the gorilla looked like he was trying to protect the boy from panicked bystanders'

I'm not judging the actions of the zoo officials as the gorilla was being subjected to screams of observers and the gorilla has the same language barrier that people had. I understand the gorilla could hurt the child even if it was not the original intent simple because of it's size. To suggest you needed telepathy to figure out if the gorilla behaviour towards the child was hostile from the beginning is sad.

 

[italianguy74]

The child is 3 YEARS OLD. Did you listen to any of the videos or read anything about this incident?

Yes, please draw me a diagram. Put yourself in the center.

Im obviously talking about the childs parents in this situation, did you seriously jump to the conclusion that the boy went to the zoo alone? Have you no common sense?
And I have watched videos and read the story, from more sources than you did...thats why I know the boy is 4 not 3.

 

[SkyRider]

Some parents would have a 3 year old child on a lease. However, the social scientists and liberal lefties would argue this is a gross violation of the child's human rights.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Wrong decision. They should have shot the parents. I will wager the parents placed the boy in a place where he has able to fall into the exhibit. I don't buy the story in the video that the kid crawled there. He was just 4 years old. If he did actually crawl into the exhibit then I would imagine that took some time. Where where the parents that whole time? But I still say when all the details are known it is going to turn out the parents placed the kid up on a rail where he could get a better view of the gorilla.

and I didn't see any "dragging" in the videos I saw. What I saw was a wild animal trying to care for a small human the the best he can. If it weren't for all of the idiots handing over the exhibit and screaming the kid could have spent the afternoon in there.

The gorilla did drag the kid for a bit in the shallow water, but not to harm the child per se. They did show other incidents where gorillas protected children without harm to the animal, but situations are not all the same. Several zoo keepers said this was the right decision, albeit with the loss of an incredible beast of the wild.

 

[IM469]

Some parents would have a 3 year old child on a lease. However, the social scientists and liberal lefties would argue this is a gross violation of the child's human rights.

Only if you can't put him in a dress at the same time !

They should rent these at the zoo entrance - the design fits. Lions, tigers, bears ... why would a parent not want one of these on their hyperactive kid ?

 

[GPIDEAL]

Let's not forget the young child was able to get into the enclosure .... apparently quickly and easily. It's the Zoo's responsibility to make sure this cannot happen through initial design and on-going maintenance. I doubt the zoo will be suing the parents as the parents could easily counter-sue for Zoo for their negligence.

Sure, let's all blame the parents. Gotta ask, how many of you have young children? Even perfect parents could have looked away for 10-20 seconds. As much as we try, it's impossible to be eyes-on your child non-stop in the real world. As guests, we assume the Zoo had taken every precaution to secure the enclosure so the parents were probably relaxed and enjoying their environment.

This is a terrible situation, but I think the zoo did the right thing. They had procedures for such an event, that (I expect) were written and vetted by experts. They practiced and were prepared. I'm sure other experts will now be reviewing those procedures and this particular situation and all zoos will benefit from the findings. In the meantime, fix the friggin gorilla enclosure!




Nonsense! Fuji said nothing along those lines.

I agree with you too Promo.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Climbing into an animals enclosure at the zoo is common stupid behavior.
I can draw you a diagram if you want. lol

You can't call a young child stupid for being curious and climbing into the gorilla's zoo enclosure.

 

[Promo]

Im obviously talking about the childs parents in this situation, did you seriously jump to the conclusion that the boy went to the zoo alone? Have you no common sense?

You are backpedaling, you originally stated:

Climbing into an animals enclosure at the zoo is common stupid behavior.

It wasn't the mother that climbed in, it was the child. BTW, your whole sentence doesn't make sense.
Looks like GPIDEAL came to the same conclusion as myself, so maybe you need to look in the mirror.

At this time, there is no implication that the mother was negligent and Cincinnati Police Lt. Stephen Saunders said: "he is not aware of any intention to charge the mother or the parents at this time" and in a different quote: "no charges were being pursued against the child's parents".
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/30/us/gorilla-shot-harambe/
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...ital-after-falling-into-gorilla-pen/85095094/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/vigil-planned-cincinnati-zoo-tribute-slain-gorilla-39481928

Clearly the zoo was negligent since a small child easily and quickly breached their barriers.

And I have watched videos and read the story, from more sources than you did...thats why I know the boy is 4 not 3.

The press seems to not agree on the boy's age. I found multiple references to the boy being 3 (see below) and others stating 4.
http://www.wlwt.com/news/police-responding-incident-at-cincinnati-zoo/39773436
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...tect-child-who-fell-enclosure-witness-n582311

 

[LeeHelm]

At this time, there is no implication that the mother was negligent and Cincinnati Police Lt. Stephen Saunders said: "he is not aware of any intention to charge the mother or the parents at this time" and in a different quote: "no charges were being pursued against the child's parents".

They are not looking hard enough or they don't want to appear to be picking on parents for not doing their job.

I am guessing that being attentive does not rise to negligence.

Clearly the zoo was negligent since a small child easily and quickly breached their barriers.

No question.

 

[LeeHelm]

Only if you can't put him in a dress at the same time !

They should rent these at the zoo entrance - the design fits. Lions, tigers, bears ... why would a parent not want one of these on their hyperactive kid ?

The day care in our building uses these. They chain all the kids together. Smaller ones ride in a big push cart. It is really cute to see them all going out for a walk.

 

[Twister]

I was going to blame the Zoo's fence too, but in 38 years nobody got in there and they never had a problem. Makes for a good discussion but Its a accident that happened .

 

[ValeriaBeleza]

Right decision:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/vide...136a14-259a-11e6-8329-6104954928d2_video.html

I think the question should be "why people go to the zoo!?' to seek education at the expense of living animals kidnapped out of there natural habitat and put them a drastically smaller and unnatural environment it disgusts me to see humans getting enjoyment and amusement out of another living animal without consideration of the well being of the animal...... gorillas that is forcefully taken from their natural habitats and put out for people to see equivalent too a circus ...... ugh...its bedtime...

 

[GPIDEAL]

I think the question should be "why people go to the zoo!?' to seek education at the expense of living animals kidnapped out of there natural habitat and put them a drastically smaller and unnatural environment it disgusts me to see humans getting enjoyment and amusement out of another living animal without consideration of the well being of the animal...... gorillas that is forcefully taken from their natural habitats and put out for people to see equivalent too a circus ...... ugh...its bedtime...

While similar thoughts to yours crossed my mind too, others have stated that a) gorillas in captivity live longer than those in the wild, and b) seeing animals in zoos might raise better awareness or appreciation of how important it is to cherish wildlife and support such causes.

I realize that today's zoos are better designed to simulate natural habitats, but I guess there's no comparison to the jungle.

 

[nobody123]

I cannot believe the number of fucking idiots that want to blame the parents. None of you have ever had kids, have you. Or have forgotten what it is like to have a toddler. You blink and they're off doing something dumb. It is physically impossible to keep an eye on them EVERY MOTHERFUCKING SECOND OF THEIR WAKING EXISTENCE. It just cannot be done. And yet, everyone rushes to judge the parents as if this tragedy is their fault. What about the fucking zoo, morons? Do you think, just maybe, perhaps, there is the faintest sliver of a possibility that they SHOULD NOT HAVE DESIGNED AN ENCLOSURE FOR A POWERFUL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL THAT SOME FUCKING TODDLER CAN GET INTO SO EASILY?

Jesus Christ the derp is thick today.

The zoo is 100 fucking percent at fault, which is only mitigated (kinda sorta) by them making the right choice in a horrible situation that should not have happened... a situation that arose because of their fucking negligence.

Christ.

 

[frankcastle]

I agree. How safe is the barrier if a young child can get past it?

Curious how much training the people who shot the gorilla had.

Tough choice but imagine the press if the kid was ripped apart by the gorilla.