Gorilla Shot Dead Zoo - US
- Thread starter shyvas
- Start date
OP
OP
Totally agree.
You don't let a toddler roam around in a zoo without supervision. The zoo should have made sure that the area where the gorilla lived was 100 % secured.
The poor gorilla could have lived until he was 50 as they live longer in captivity.
Chryssie
Internet Junkie
I agree as well. The gorilla paid the price for bad parenting. WTF? How did that kid climb through/over the barricade? Where were the parents?
robert99
On the boat
OP
OP
I totally agree. Animals should not be locked up for the display of children.
If they want to learn about animals there are tons of excellent wildlife documentaries.
Blobbenstein
.......
peacefulveglady
Forum Legend
I feel like the parents were at the fault for this and the poor animal shouldn't of gotten shot and killed, thats what wrong with these places, they invite people too view their animals then gets angry when a kid like this goes near an animal like this and gets the child into danger.
FB post by Amanda O'Donoughue
"I am going to try to clear up a few things that have been weighing on me about Harambe and the Cinci Zoo since I read the news this afternoon.
I have worked with Gorillas as a zookeeper while in my twenties (before children) and they are my favorite animal (out of dozens) that I have ever worked closely with. I am gonna go ahead and list a few facts, thoughts and opinions for those of you that aren't familiar with the species itself, or how a zoo operates in emergency situations.
Now Gorillas are considered 'gentle giants' at least when compared with their more aggressive cousins the chimpanzee, but a 400+ pound male in his prime is as strong as roughly 10 adult humans. What can you bench press? OK, now multiply that number by ten. An adult male silverback gorilla has one job, to protect his group. He does this by bluffing or intimidating anything that he feels threatened by.
Gorillas are considered a Class 1 mammal, the most dangerous class of mammals in the animal kingdom, again, merely due to their size and strength. They are grouped in with other apes, tigers, lions, bears, etc.
While working in an AZA accredited zoo with Apes, keepers DO NOT work in contact with them. Meaning they do NOT go in with these animals. There is always a welded mesh barrier between the animal and the humans.
In more recent decades, zoos have begun to redesign enclosures, removing all obvious caging and attempting to create a seamless view of the animals for the visitor to enjoy watching animals in a more natural looking habitat. *this is great until little children begin falling into exhibits* which of course can happen to anyone, especially in a crowded zoo-like setting.
I have watched this video over again, and with the silverback's postering, and tight lips, it's pretty much the stuff of any keeper's nightmares, and I have had MANY while working with them. This job is not for the complacent. Gorillas are kind, curious, and sometimes silly, but they are also very large, very strong animals. I always brought my OCD to work with me. checking and rechecking locks to make sure my animals and I remained separated before entering to clean.
I keep hearing that the Gorilla was trying to protect the boy. I do not find this to be true. Harambe reaches for the boys hands and arms, but only to position the child better for his own displaying purposes.
Males do very elaborate displays when highly agitated, slamming and dragging things about. Typically they would drag large branches, barrels and heavy weighted balls around to make as much noise as possible. Not in an effort to hurt anyone or anything (usually) but just to intimidate. It was clear to me that he was reacting to the screams coming from the gathering crowd.
Harambe was most likely not going to separate himself from that child without seriously hurting him first (again due to mere size and strength, not malicious intent) Why didn't they use treats? well, they attempted to call them off exhibit (which animals hate), the females in the group came in, but Harambe did not. What better treat for a captive animal than a real live kid!
They didn't use Tranquilizers for a few reasons, A. Harambe would've taken too long to become immobilized, and could have really injured the child in the process as the drugs used may not work quickly enough depending on the stress of the situation and the dose B. Harambe would've have drowned in the moat if immobilized in the water, and possibly fallen on the boy trapping him and drowning him as well.
Many zoos have the protocol to call on their expertly trained dart team in the event of an animal escape or in the event that a human is trapped with a dangerous animal. They will evaluate the scene as quickly and as safely as possible, and will make the most informed decision as how they will handle the animal.
I can't point fingers at anyone in this situation, but we need to really evaluate the safety of the animal enclosures from the visitor side. Not impeding that view is a tough one, but there should be no way that someone can find themselves inside of an animal's exhibit.
I know one thing for sure, those keepers lost a beautiful, and I mean gorgeous silverback and friend. I feel their loss with them this week. As educators and conservators of endangered species, all we can do is shine a light on the beauty and majesty of these animals in hopes to spark a love and a need to keep them from vanishing from our planet. Child killers, they are not. It's unfortunate for the conservation of the species, and the loss of revenue a beautiful zoo such as Cinci will lose. tragedy all around."
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"I am going to try to clear up a few things that have been weighing on me about Harambe and the Cinci Zoo since I read the news this afternoon.
I have worked with Gorillas as a zookeeper while in my twenties (before children) and they are my favorite animal (out of dozens) that I have ever worked closely with. I am gonna go ahead and list a few facts, thoughts and opinions for those of you that aren't familiar with the species itself, or how a zoo operates in emergency situations.
Now Gorillas are considered 'gentle giants' at least when compared with their more aggressive cousins the chimpanzee, but a 400+ pound male in his prime is as strong as roughly 10 adult humans. What can you bench press? OK, now multiply that number by ten. An adult male silverback gorilla has one job, to protect his group. He does this by bluffing or intimidating anything that he feels threatened by.
Gorillas are considered a Class 1 mammal, the most dangerous class of mammals in the animal kingdom, again, merely due to their size and strength. They are grouped in with other apes, tigers, lions, bears, etc.
While working in an AZA accredited zoo with Apes, keepers DO NOT work in contact with them. Meaning they do NOT go in with these animals. There is always a welded mesh barrier between the animal and the humans.
In more recent decades, zoos have begun to redesign enclosures, removing all obvious caging and attempting to create a seamless view of the animals for the visitor to enjoy watching animals in a more natural looking habitat. *this is great until little children begin falling into exhibits* which of course can happen to anyone, especially in a crowded zoo-like setting.
I have watched this video over again, and with the silverback's postering, and tight lips, it's pretty much the stuff of any keeper's nightmares, and I have had MANY while working with them. This job is not for the complacent. Gorillas are kind, curious, and sometimes silly, but they are also very large, very strong animals. I always brought my OCD to work with me. checking and rechecking locks to make sure my animals and I remained separated before entering to clean.
I keep hearing that the Gorilla was trying to protect the boy. I do not find this to be true. Harambe reaches for the boys hands and arms, but only to position the child better for his own displaying purposes.
Males do very elaborate displays when highly agitated, slamming and dragging things about. Typically they would drag large branches, barrels and heavy weighted balls around to make as much noise as possible. Not in an effort to hurt anyone or anything (usually) but just to intimidate. It was clear to me that he was reacting to the screams coming from the gathering crowd.
Harambe was most likely not going to separate himself from that child without seriously hurting him first (again due to mere size and strength, not malicious intent) Why didn't they use treats? well, they attempted to call them off exhibit (which animals hate), the females in the group came in, but Harambe did not. What better treat for a captive animal than a real live kid!
They didn't use Tranquilizers for a few reasons, A. Harambe would've taken too long to become immobilized, and could have really injured the child in the process as the drugs used may not work quickly enough depending on the stress of the situation and the dose B. Harambe would've have drowned in the moat if immobilized in the water, and possibly fallen on the boy trapping him and drowning him as well.
Many zoos have the protocol to call on their expertly trained dart team in the event of an animal escape or in the event that a human is trapped with a dangerous animal. They will evaluate the scene as quickly and as safely as possible, and will make the most informed decision as how they will handle the animal.
I can't point fingers at anyone in this situation, but we need to really evaluate the safety of the animal enclosures from the visitor side. Not impeding that view is a tough one, but there should be no way that someone can find themselves inside of an animal's exhibit.
I know one thing for sure, those keepers lost a beautiful, and I mean gorgeous silverback and friend. I feel their loss with them this week. As educators and conservators of endangered species, all we can do is shine a light on the beauty and majesty of these animals in hopes to spark a love and a need to keep them from vanishing from our planet. Child killers, they are not. It's unfortunate for the conservation of the species, and the loss of revenue a beautiful zoo such as Cinci will lose. tragedy all around."
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Chryssie
Internet Junkie
I thought that FB article was very informative. Zoos are horrible places but I guess are a necessary evil to preserve the endangered species. I just wish they weren't FOR PROFIT tourist attractions. Though I don't know where the money to help animals would come from. It is a very complicated issue and I have no idea what the solution would be. Humans have caused so much damage to the environment and native species. Makes me sad and angry at the same time.
Blobbenstein
.......
Gorillas should have more space, than is probably offered by a zoo. And it might be better for them not to be gawked at every day.
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I have to say I agree, from the little I know. I've been avoiding reading too much as I'll just get angry.
In my opinion it's the zoos stupid fault for letting the safety barrier be lax enough for a child to get in. As for the parents I cant really say as I'm not a parent (yes people should watch their children, but if I was at a zoo I wouldnt expect there to be a way into the cages and expect them to be safe if I did have to look away for a second). However, once the child's in there it's hard to see a way out of it without harming Harambe because when a human child is involved a zoo wouldn't take any chances. Its one thing to look at video footage after it's happened but in the heat of the moment the most important thing would be the safety of the child. Imagine if they tried to coax him out and something went wrong, the backlash on the zoo would be huge.
TLDR: **** zoos. RIP Harambe.
Calliegirl
Forum Legend
- Joined
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I am a parent and it isn't that difficult to watch your child if you put away your phone and stop checking Facebook to see what everyone is eating for lunch. You can look away for a second and they can run off, but she wasn't watching for an extended amount of time as he was able to crawl under the railing, through wires and bushes before falling into the moat. That was much more than looking away for a second.
I'm sorry, but it should be absolutely, 100% safe to take your four-year-old to a zoo an not have him fall into a gorilla enclosure, no matter how hard he tries! I don't care if the parent is a good one or a bad one, distracted or attentive, young or old - it should not have been possible for that child to get into that exhibit. Of course, I believe even more strongly that that exhibit should not been there to begin with. Please, friends, do not support zoos, circuses, rodeos or pet stores that sell animals, because none of these animals belongs there. The problem is the captive animals, not the cage.
Wolfie
Forum Legend
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2012
- Reaction score
- 497
That enclosure has been there for 38 years and this never happened before. Put the phone down and don't take more kids than you can handle by yourself. Reportedly he told his mom he wanted to get into the water and she said "no you're not" and then turned her back. Personal responsibility anyone?
I do agree Harambe shouldn't have been captive in the first place.
I do agree Harambe shouldn't have been captive in the first place.
OP
OP
Apparently the police will not be charging the mother for negligence :
Cincinnati police don't recommend criminal charges in gorilla case
The zoo is planning to use Harambe's sperm and it looks like there are going to be more captive gorillas in their zoo.
Cincinnati police don't recommend criminal charges in gorilla case
The zoo is planning to use Harambe's sperm and it looks like there are going to be more captive gorillas in their zoo.
peacefulveglady
Forum Legend
WTH???? use his sperm to breed again then it will happen again? Wow!!!!
Which leads me to believe it was possibly not at the latest security standard.....
People likely were not as dumb 40 years ago.....
