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.

I don't see what else could have been done. Even if the gorilla was being protective, he still could have hurt the boy in the process, like pp said, they don't realise their own strength. He was dragging him through the water - that alone could have seriously hurt or killed him in the process.

What else could they have done? They tried to coax him inside - it didn't work. Were they supposed to sit back and hoped for the best? Protective or not a little boy's life was at risk. Someone entering the enclosure could have agitated the gorilla even more.

Either way there wouldn't have been a good outcome. There would be uproar if the gorilla had killed the boy, people would be wondering why nothing was done to save him etc.

I also agree that if it were a different animal, such as a crocodile people wouldn't be so emotionally invested in the whole thing.

So the barriers were apparently so obviously crap that someone can tell that their two year old could climb through just from looking at a photo. And the kid was talking about climbing in to pat the gorilla? In that case why didbt the parents just hold his hand?

So that is the barrier for the enclosure?!

Fucking hell that is shit!

But the outer barriers are supposed to be minimal so it doesn't seem like the animals are in 'cages'- the drop into the moat is the real barrier.

It looks like there is a bloody great warning sign right in front of the child in that picture.

Yes, a child can get over/ through it but the parents are supposed to have sufficient control over their children to prevent this happening.

But the outer barriers are supposed to be minimal so it doesn't seem like the animals are in 'cages'- the drop into the moat is the real barrier.

Yes, it does seem like the enclosures are designed to stop the animals getting out, not t stop humans getting in - that bit is the job of the humans. Maybe people are just too complacent at zoos and should exercise similar caution to what they do near roads etc. After all they are in incredibly close proximity to very dangerous animals. Maybe if they were generally more cautious, kids and adults would have a bit more respect and reverence for the animals?

Gorilla definitely smarter than the humans in question.

I guess zoo standards must be very different it America - I can't imagine that barrier would be legal here as UK zoo standards specifically state fences must be designed so children cannot climb over, under or through them.

The lion enclosure at Bristol Zoo for example is surrounded by plexiglass. There's quite a wide, deep moat between the gorilla island and the viewing bit with no hidden drops or ways for children to go quickly out of sight.

It does sound like Cinncinatti Zoo has a poor safety record.

An expert opinion finally.

That's already been mentioned yorkie

At Bristol Zoo, a child could climb over the visitor-side fence, but they'd then fall into a moat which is inaccessible (apparently) to the gorillas, rather than straight into their space.

Well no, the two bears at the same zoo didn't really escape their enclosure, someone left a door open

I find it frankly a little odd that the gorilla's keepers were unwilling to enter the enclosure. I know a number of people who deal with aggressive (non-human!) apes, and there is no cowering behind fences, or packing hunting rifles - they have no choice but to negotiate, putting themselves at the apes' mercy.
Seriously what planet are you on?!?
You wanted the keepers to go in without guns and negotiate with the gorilla? I've heard it all now

Another world-renowned primatologist has observed that the gorilla's behaviour appears to be protective, not aggressive.
Something that he wrote BEFORE having seen the unedited video.
After seeing it, he wrote: "I have now seen an unedited video, which makes the situation look even worse because apart from the gorilla’s behavior, the water also poses a danger to the child."
He also didn't have all the facts as he suggests they should have lured the gorilla away with food - they tried that, it failed. He then suggested moving everyone out of the way so that "calm might have returned and, who knows, the child might have been left unharmed" That's a lots of "mights" (and I'm not sure how they might have been able to stop the child from crying). He might have been ripped apart, thrown or drowned. Is any right minded person seriously going to take the risk?

Love it!!
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/06/01/rescue-mission-launched-as-thousands-stranded-on-higher-moral-ground/

Logical

Linking to theladbible? Also grounds for being shot.

Do you think they could get any more sarcastic there logical?

logical

Is thre some sort of moral high ground fund we shoukd be contributing to ?

Oh dear Logical I hope they can rescue them all. I hear Sancti-mountain is very high.

There are already people being all PO in the comments

I know a number of people who deal with aggressive (non-human!) apes

You said upthread you did yourself.

LogicalThinking Would you please walk on some ground so that I can worship it? I did not know that website which has had me PMSL all evening!

Shoot the parents. Darwin's theory anyone?

Andrewofgg
Sure beats the DM for quality news!

Sorry need I scanned and scanned and didn't see it so I weighed in