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Harambe the Gorila

(39 Posts)
ninathenana Tue 31-May-16 13:23:22

granjura nonnie did say the parents were part to blame.
There is a post on FB saying people are wrong to "slag off" the parents. That it only takes a split second, and who hasn't taken their eyes of their child for a minute or two bla bla bla.
Precisely why you hold hands with a four year old in a zoo !!
I was very sad that they had to shoot the beautiful creature. The zoo has some questions to answer about public safety in my opinion.

Elrel Tue 31-May-16 13:21:00

There's a lot on mumsnet. Apparently the boy was saying he wanted to go into the enclosure and into the water (the moat he fell into). His mother (parents?) had 2 or 3 other children with them.
People were screaming which probably have disturbed the gorilla. The keepers got 2 female gorillas to go indoors but Harambe wouldn't.
It was reported that the 'whole' video shows Harambe being rough with the boy.
This may not be completely accurate but it is what I gathered. If the parents had taken a firm hold and the fence been more secure nothing would have happened.
Very sad.

Nonnie1 Tue 31-May-16 12:38:35

Eh ?

granjura Tue 31-May-16 12:34:26

Nonnie- and the parents bear no responsibility in this, at all?!?

merlotgran Tue 31-May-16 12:32:36

The zoo made the right decision but such a heartbreaking image of the gorilla holding the little boy's hand.sad

nigglynellie Tue 31-May-16 12:28:35

What I can't understand is how the child managed to get into the enclosure in the first place. Surely it is the responsibility of the Zoo or Park to make it absolutely watertight. I think this very sad preventable accident was both the fault of the Zoo and of the parents of this little boy. The authorities had no option but to shoot this poor creature as his mood could have changed in an instant, but heads should be held in shame at the execution of this magnificent innocent creature as he was killed through no fault of his own, having been put in that situation by humans, he was then effectively murdered by them. Enough to make you despair.

Anya Tue 31-May-16 12:28:12

Riverwalk there was no doubt that this was the only option available under the circumstances, but where any 'doubt' arises is what the gorilla might have done. There remains the possibility that he may have been protective towards a young child, but I agree no one could take the chance sad

We will never know.

Nonnie1 Tue 31-May-16 12:26:02

The Zoo is 100% accountable for this. If the 4 year old child could get in, then surely a Gorilla could get out??

Either way, it's the Zoo, and to some extent of course, parents who were not looking after their child properly, but even so... access to these animals should be impossible for visitors.

Riverwalk Tue 31-May-16 12:22:01

To answer the OP, yes it was right to shoot the gorilla sad

Are you in any doubt Mrsmopp?

Christinefrance Tue 31-May-16 12:16:55

Yes Alea very sad for Harambe but as you say the staff were left with no option but to kill him. Think this was also the view of an expert in animal behaviour.

Firecracker123 Tue 31-May-16 12:16:22

The parents should be prosecuted for not looking after their child.

Alea Tue 31-May-16 12:09:03

I was so saddened by this, but I suppose the authorities had to make a snap decision for the safety of the child.
Compare and contrast, if you will, the nutter man who stripped naked and jumped into the Lions' enclosure somewhere or other the other week. Again, the lions lost out. angry

Anya Tue 31-May-16 12:04:14

Yes, that was a gorilla called Jambo mrsmopp I visited the Durrell Wildlife Park recently and was told about it by a warden. Jambo protected the unconscious child from the rest of the pack and then, when the child started to come round, led the pack away from him.

What is sometimes forgotten is that an ambulance man then jumped into the enclosure and helped rescue the child.

mrsmopp Tue 31-May-16 11:52:10

We have seen from David Attenborough programmers that gorillas are not vicious animals as in the King Kong movies, but gentle family oriented creatures. A four year old boy crawled into the gorilla enclosure in a zoo and Harambe the gorilla held his hand. We're the keepers right to shoot him?
There was a similar incident many years ago at Jersey zoo and the child came to no harm.