An endangered gorilla has been shot dead after a 4-yo fell into its zoo enclosure

[AdrenalineFudge]

Why the fuck has this happened... again - to another endangered species?

A little boy fell into an enclosure and the zoo staff decided the best course of action was to shoot the gorilla dead.

I'm not even sure who I'm most angry at. This should not have happened in the first place.

The zoo are also at fault, access should not have been possible. But, ultimately the adult in charge of the child is responsible for the child's behaviour in public.

Having been on school trips (and indeed, having worked in nurseries and schools), I realise that with ratios of one adults to 6, 8, 15 children it is just not possible to watch them all every second.

The risk of a child wandering off or getting lost is one you expect on a school trip to the zoo.

The risk of a child getting into a dangerous animal enclosure is not one you would inspect.

I've seen the first on a risk assessment, not the second.

Bang on Chardonnay

The consequences are that a child was neglected and harmed due to lack of judgement by an adult. That's the only consequence that matters.

And an endangered animal lost their life and the gorilla conservation programme was harmed badly.

fairuza What would your response be to me if this had happened to your child whilst in my care on a school trip?

I've just answered that question.

The child was harmed because the zoos security for its dangerous animals was inadequate.

The gorilla too frankly.

The zoo was the party here catering to both animals and children. their safety was its responsibility.

I agree chardonnay , the consequences for the gorilla and conservation are sickening.

I don't think you did, you quoted risk assessments.

There are about 4,000 western lowland gorillas in captivity. This is what he was. 100,000 of them are in the wild.

The captive breeding program will eventually get over the loss. Might take a while but it will get there. They are endangered but not critical

If it was a mountain gorilla it would be a devastation. There are about 645 mountain gorillas left in the world. 645. None are of those are in captivity

Fairuza, are you seriously telling us you would not blame a teacher if that was your child and they hadn't paid attention?

You'll shrug your shoulders and say "That's life"?

Chardonnay - it's just not possible to watch multiple children in that kind of environment all the time. I wouldn't have an unrealistic expectation of the teacher because I have been in exactly the same situation.

Are you seriously saying it would be the teachers fault that a child accessed dangerous animals st the zoo?

I wouldn't shrug my shoulders, but I would blame those responsible - the zoo that failed to maintain enclosures to the legally required standard.

Absolutely.

Of course.

The reality is there would be different ramifications for the people supervising a school trip in this situation.

The question was would parent's blame the teacher/supervisor and the answer is yes, most would.

There seems to be a trend on this thread of people looking at things how they would wish them to be rather than how they actually are.

They should have used tranquilisers/The gorilla was just protecting the little boy/There was no need to shoot him.

All the mother's fault, I'm maintaining my original stance. She's an idiot.

From what i read the enclosures were legal and in 34 years this is the only incident. Im not going to make any judgement and wait to see whats decided....

It wouldn't be legal in this country. Enclosures have to be designed specifically so children cannot get under, over or through fences.

All the mother's fault, I'm maintaining my original stance. She's an idiot.

I agree, it's nothing to do with the father... He's blameless... As is the zoo for having such crap security a 4 yo could get into a gorilla enclosure. How can the zoo possibly be to blame in any way? No, 100% the mother.

I wonder why people's biggest problem is really?

Is it because he was a gorilla and therefore a favourite animal and human like?

Or is it because they are endangered?

There is a species of frog called the mountain chicken frog. There are 88 left in the wild. That is it. I bet no one would really care if they were all killed

It wouldn't be legal in this country

I agree... Unless this 4 yo had superhuman powers, I'm not sure how any zoo could defend security to a dangerous animal enclosure capable of a breach by a 4 yo.

The zoo's risk assessments will surely be under massive scrutiny now, that a four year old child managed to got in.

I used to write risk assessments, you really had to assume that anything could happen and either eliminate that risk or have a plan in place should it happen. Unless the four year old had superpowers, I'm assuming that this enclosure wasn't checked as thoroughly as it should have been.

There have been cases of children slipping away under a teacher's care, but I agree with fairuza here, a risk assessment will have covered child running off, it would not have covered child getting into dangerous animal enclosure, that is entirely down to the zoo.

Ollie, you do realise you are condemning the vast majority of parents?
I don't know one parent who hasn't had some sort of narrow squeak at least once with their child.
Occasionally, these things end up tragically, but they were not deliberate neglect, the parents are responsible, but accidents happen.

I've been to a few zoos, ive never, ever seen every single child on reins or holding hands 100% of the time. What a lot of irresponsible parents there are out there. What a good job those zoos ensured their visitors safety by making sure the enclosures were secure.