Did The Zoo Officials Make The Correct Decision To Kill The Gorilla?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cincinnati-zoo-critics-blame-parents-of-boy-as-anger-mounts-over-shooting-dead-of-gorilla-a7055796.html

Many have said that they didn't, but what was the alternative?

On a radio phone-in this morning, one person was foolish enough to suggest that the parents of the child staged this, so that they could obtain video footage to later sell to the media and put on youtube.

[ummmm]

C'mon O-G, don't call little kids dumb for just being little kids. Did you grow up in a locked room?

[hc4361]

OG,

"The zoo said this was the first time Gorilla World has experienced a breach since the exhibit opened in 1978. The exhibit is inspected regularly by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and the United States Department of Agriculture, and adheres to safety guidelines, according to the zoo."

[gness]

Apologies if this has been shown or posted about......more careless parents but a different outcome.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05CItceEdg

[anotheoldgit]

/// I suspect the gorilla's decision to drag his new playmate around the place, signed his death warrant. Gut feeling is that it would have been ok not to shoot, but what do I know ? ///

And if they hadn't shot the animal how would they have persuaded it to give up his new found playmate?

[Prudie]

That's totally untrue that we are more upset because this was a gorilla, there was an equal uproar about the lions shot in similar circumstances last week when the man jumped in to commit suicide. I don't know where you get that idea from.

[Old_Geezer]

No, And I didn't force my way through protective barriers either, because I wasn't dumb.

Sounds like their inspections need to be a little more thorough. How regularly ? Daily ? Weekly ? Every five years ?

[hc4361]

OG, the barrier could have been damaged just a few minutes before the child climbed through - we don't know yet.

[Old_Geezer]

Keepers usually have sway with their charges. Plus I'm unsure the tranquilliser was a non-option. Not every gorilla is going to cause a problem http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3406830/I-m-forever-thankful-Jambo-gone-one-two-ways-Man-protected-huge-gorilla-fell-enclosure-boy-relives-dramatic-moment-30-years-says-t-wait-kids-there.html

[Old_Geezer]

Apparently there were a number of barriers he got through. That they were all damaged in the same short time, seems unlikely. Besides he'd know he wasn't supposed to go through them just damaged or not.

[hc4361]

The tranquilliser was not an option because in the few minutes it took to work the gorilla may have been enraged by it.
Let's wait for the facts to emerge before we point the finger.

[mikey4444]

OG...thanks for that....I had forgotten all about that incident in Jersey.

[jambutty]

Of course it shouldn't have been shot. Eye witnesses say it was being gentle with the child, but I do blame the parents for not keeping a closer eye on him and also the zoo who should have made sure things like this don't happen, and because it did an innocent animal on the verge of extinction, died. The zoo may prosecute the parents apparently.

[Mamyalynne]

Both the Jersey incident - 30 years ago? Really I recall it like yesterday - and the Lion incident were mentioned on a thread yesterday.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1494102.html


With hindsight we are all wise, but action has to be taken quickly in these cases.

[anotheoldgit]

jambutty

/// Of course it shouldn't have been shot. Eye witnesses say it was being gentle with the child, ///

Well that was okay then, but had it been your child or one close to you, would you still have said "don't shoot the gorilla"?

And please don't say "if it had been my child or one close to me, I wouldn't have let it breach the security fence in the first place".

[jno]

I think so. The best plan would have been to fire a cryogenic ray at him that would freeze him for 10 minutes, but as such things don't exist, and since they needed to take immediate action, I think they took the only course open to them.

[dannyk13]

Imagine the furore if the zoo officials had not shot the gorilla and the child had been injured or worse.They had no option but to shoot it.

[jambutty]

Ok aog I won't say that!! I repeat it should NOT have been shot and I hope they do prosecute the parents. I aslo repeat, it was being gentle.

[hc4361]

Didn't look very gentle to me the way he dragged the boy through the water.

[woofgang]

why not AOG? when I was a kid (I know, I know they had dinosaurs in zoos then....) zoos didn’t have such solid barriers for many of the exhibits and people kept hold of their kids.
Sadly I think that the zoo had no choice. We all know that children don’t have great judgement in such matters. If what we have heard is true (Safe solid undamaged barriers) then this one is on the parents and no one else.

[jambutty]

People who were THERE said it was gentle.