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.

[gness]

For what?

[andy-hughes]

A mail journalist has taken up yards of newsprint in today's edition anthropmorhising this situation, and the gorilla's behaviour, centering in the fact that for a new seconds the gorilla held the child's hand.

This sort of handwringing sob-fest goes against the facts and the potential of the situation -

a large and potentially lethal primate, part of a species known for sudden and unpredictable changes in mood and behaviour is within reach of a small child. The zoo staff had to make an instant decision, and made, in my view, the correct one.

Waiting to see if the gorilla was going to continue 'interacting' with the child, or suddenly tear him limb from limb is a luxury afforded to armchair analysts, none of whom would have been held responsible for the death of the child had they not acted as they did.

[ummmm]

Gness....I always think back to my MILs story about her two. She's a brilliant mother...

She was shopping with her two kids...she let go of her daughters hand as she went to pay for the goods. Her daughter ran off, mother ran after her leaving son behind....son rides out the shop on a toy car....mother comes back and son is missing. This is where ginger hair is a bonus :-) she desperately looks for her son and a stranger says "are you looking for a ginger kid? because he's up there"

That situation was out of her hands. It all happened in seconds.

In life we have to do things which means we take our eyes off our little ones.

looks

[gness]

I know, Pied....I typed them.....but I don't understand why you say I would like the MeCanns sued.......sued for what?.......I am asking you.

[anneasquith]

Who would be able to assess this animals behaviour better than zoo staff? I would think its the last and most distressing act tbey wished to do. So we must respect their knowledge and expertise.

[ummmm]

I thought he was saying they were my words.....

[naomi24]

As sad as it is, the zoo had no choice.

[gness]

I know that, Ummmm...and being fairly local you may know how close I am to the most tragic death of a child through a moment of inattention.

But we have to know our kids and be responsible for them in different situations. I could have taken my four year old daughter to a zoo and know that she'd never leave my side for a second.... I'd have had to have my four year old son on reins or a wrist lead.

[gness]

No, Pied......the money spent is fine with me.......the death of a gorilla isn't.

Anne, I'm not yet convinced of that......if a child got in there the zoo was negligent in protecting the public and damage to the child would have been costly.......that may not, of course, have been their thinking...but it may.

[naomi24]

gness, I don't think anyone is happy to see a magnificent creature killed but I'm not sure what you're saying here. Would you have preferred the child die instead?

[anneasquith]

I think not G. I'd assume they had no choice. But none of us were at the scene, none of us know how the child got into the enclosure. None of us know the circumstances as to where the parents were. Because we were NOT there. !!

[naomi24]

anneasquith, // none of us know how the child got into the enclosure. //

Television news last night reported that the child climbed up the barrier and fell over into the enclosure.

[ummmm]

So many people moan about kids being wrapped up in cotton wool.

Something like this happens and we clearly need to have them in reigns.

Make your minds up...

[jno]

very true, ummmm.

This seems like a tragic accident. I don't see how running around trying to blame somebody is any use at all.

[gness]

It's not one or the other, Ummmm....it's being responsible according to the situation......I let a child run free in the open grass area at Wicksteed......but hold a hand firmly by the boating lake or train tracks.

[ummmm]

And Gness....if you have more than two children?

[Ellipsis]

The parents are responsible for the child getting into the enclosure.

The zoo would have been responsible if the gorilla killed the child once it was in the enclosure, given they had an opportunity to stop the gorilla doing that.

This interview gives a fair summary of the situation the zoo faced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36413698