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AIBU?

To think it's unfair to blame the mother of child hurt by gorilla?

497 replies

pinkladyapple · 30/05/2016 22:02

Yes if she was holding his hand maybe he wouldn't have ended up in the enclosure. But he could have gone over/through the fence in a split second. And the zoo should have fencing which makes this impossible, surely?

The parents aren't being prosecuted for negligence and yet the Internet seem angry at the mother.

But then the people who think that also seem to think a tranquilliser works instantly, and the gorilla wouldn't react to the pain or impact of the dart.

It's sad and terrible though. For everyone.

OP posts:

Report

Thattimeofyearagain · 30/05/2016 22:05

But she is at least partly to blame. Her child, her responsibility to look after him. The Zoo is also liable Imo.

Mavisblewitt · 30/05/2016 22:07

Totally agree. that poor parent is more than likely feeling crap as it is, people slagging them off on the internet isn't going to help.

Tbh I'm pretty disgusted by some of the comments I've read!

The zoo holds ultimate responsibility to ensure enclosures are secure, and this should have factored significantly in their risk assessments.

Yes it's a shame that poor gorilla had to die but I feel the anger is being misdirected imho. I'm just relieved the headlines aren't also reporting on a dead child.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 30/05/2016 22:07

Hundreds of children visit that zoo each day. If it was that easy to get in it would've happened before.

I feel like a bit of info is missing.

Not blaming anyone, but not convinced we ever get the full story.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 30/05/2016 22:08

Seems awfully soon after the lion story too.

I feel something's afoot.

teablanket · 30/05/2016 22:08

I'm sure I read that the parents may be facing charges..?

I think people are angry and sad because an innocent member of an endangered species was killed over something that shouldn't have happened.

Mavisblewitt · 30/05/2016 22:09

Pressed post too soon, yes as parents we are responsible for our children so some accountability lies with the parents, but I stand by my previous comment about the unnecessary derogatory comments, they're not helpful.

BeYourselfUnlessUCanBeAUnicorn · 30/05/2016 22:11

I agree OP. It's so easy for a child to slip out of sight briefly in a crowd. And anyone who says otherwise is deluded.

Today we went out, I sat on the bench facing the back of a large play area and slide. DD had been playing there for ages, went in again to go down the slide, didn't reappear despite me looking in that direction the whole time. I went looking for her and she had gone over to the play area next to the one she had been on.

The zoo should never ever have had a gap in a fence that a child could squeeze through. That is the only fault in this story.

AngieBolen · 30/05/2016 22:12

If you are by a road you hold on to your child to stop them running in to the road.

If you are in a zoo, which is a visitor attraction you pay to go to, you presume your child will be safe. Of course you keep on eye on them to make sure they don't wander off, but you don't imagine they may be able to access an enclosure.

I think there is a lot of info missing, though.

Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 22:13

I live near a zoo, and have visited with my kids many times. The enclosures there are built with the aim of keeping the animals in. Lowish fences but a deep body of water between the lions and the fence, for example. The same is true of pretty much any animal attraction I've ever visited - even cows/horses could be dangerous if a child were to be in the enclosure. As parents we are fully responsible for teaching our children how to behave in such places.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/05/2016 22:14

If you are by a road you hold on to your child to stop them running in to the road.

This^ I don't think I blame the parents - but I definitely don't blame the zoo. Enclosures are to keep animals in, not people out. If dangerous things have to be securely fenced off in case a child runs off we would need to have high fencing along every road, river etc in the country.

Chillyegg · 30/05/2016 22:15

Your gonna get crazy people on the Internet saying horrible things all the time.
If I'm honest from what I've read I think a very large portion of the blame is with the parent.
Not only because of the danger of the animals but that was a 15 ft drop! It's the parent or guardians responsibility to make sure your child doesn't fling themselves into water in gorilla cages etc.
The zoo should for the animals safety and general publics safety have something that created a better barrier.

lem73 · 30/05/2016 22:18

I wouldn't make nasty remarks about them but they are partly to blame. You keep a close eye on a four year old no matter where you are.

FuzzyWizard · 30/05/2016 22:18

I agree OP.

limon · 30/05/2016 22:18

When it comes to blame - always the mother, never the father. The parents. we're both at the scene. imho the enclosure should have been fit for purpose.

Mousedl1 · 30/05/2016 22:18

I am annoyed that everyone is saying the mother is too blame and she should of been watching- ummmm the father was there too and is also equally responsible for that child. I find it really bad in this day and age that despite both parents being present everyone is flaming the mother rather than them both as equal parents capable of watching that boy.
Something is missing in this story though and let's be honest we have a second when we re scan for our children but there should never be a gap a child could get through to be in that situation.

neonrainbow · 30/05/2016 22:19

The parent in charge of that kid was a negligent twat. Their negligence was directly responsible for what happened. Everyone else who has visited the zoo ever managed to not lose their child in the gorilla enclosure.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2016 22:20

I've noticed a trend on my FB. The most vehement blaming 'the mother' seemed to be men who I know for a fact didn't spend much time on the ground parenting their own kids.

Coincidence? Probably. But I think people who haven't actually had to keep a small, headstrong person safe 24 hours a day are a little less understanding than they might be. DD would have been in that enclosure in about ten seconds.

gingerboy1912 · 30/05/2016 22:20

The zoo should never ever have had a gap in a fence that a child could squeeze through. That is the only fault in this story.

^^ this

makingmiracles · 30/05/2016 22:22

It's all - But horses/cows/sheep etc are hardly comparable to a huge gorilla are they! What a ridiculous comparison!
In a zoo enclosures should be not only to keep the animals in, but the public out. The blame lies with the zoo on this occasion Imo.

Oliviaerinpope · 30/05/2016 22:22

I agree OP.

honeyroar · 30/05/2016 22:22

Yes of course you hold onto your child at a road in case it runs out in front of a car, but in a zoo you'd like to think that the child can only run up to the fence to see the animals. If the parent had thought for a moment that their child could get into the enclosure I doubt theyd have even gone to the zoo at all, let alone let go of their hand.

Thattimeofyearagain · 30/05/2016 22:22

To clarify, I should have said parents, not mother.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 30/05/2016 22:24

I still don't understand why he was shot.

The gorilla pulled the boy to safety and sat with him. He looked perfectly safe. Not in danger.

Couldn't a keeper who knew the gorilla just have gone and got him??

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/05/2016 22:25

It's all - But horses/cows/sheep etc are hardly comparable to a huge gorilla are they! What a ridiculous comparison!

Cows in particular can be very dangerous, and I strongly suspect have been responsible for more deaths than gorillas....

BettyCrystal · 30/05/2016 22:25

I dunno. I don't think the parents, zoo or gorilla did anything wrong. Kids do crazy things all the time! He probably thought it was the greatest fun ever getting in behind the fence. How many people have turned their back for a minute and found their child up to no good? It all happens so quickly...

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