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.

He shouldn't have been able to fall in to the enclosure.

Yes. It's easy to blame the parents "why wasn't you watching him!" But at the end of the day a child should not be able to get into an enclosure with a wild animal

The gorilla could have ripped the boy apart before anybody realised what it was doing, killing it was the best option.

It should have been an absolutely last resort but it sounds like it was a knee jerk reaction.

Erm, it WAS the last resort.

It is a tragedy but zoo staff probably had no option darting a gorilla who was upset and hyped up might have not been tranquilised quick enough he could have killed that child saying that parents should have been watching him but the zoos priority is safety its very sad though

NotaClever That video made my stomach flip. Horrible :(

Everyone posting here suggesting there could have been an alternative course of action: would you have been willing to wait and see how things panned out if it was your child?

You know what a pp was right a child shouldnt have been able to get into an enclosure he is 4 they can wander off sometimes

It is sad.
It is sad that the boy was traumatised and his parents obviously would have been.
It is sad that the Gorilla had to be destroyed.
I feel for the boy and the parents and the keepers.
But it wouldn't even cross my mind to second guess that decision.

I read the gorilla was becoming agitated. I think it's an absolute tragedy this animal was killed and a serious look needs to had at why a 4 year old was able to fall in to the enclosure.
I dont blame the keepers for shooting the gorilla though, the risk to the boy was too strong.

I blame the zoo more than the parents. They designed the enclosure and the fences.

Yes i instantly changed my mind when somebody said a 4 year old shouldnt be able to get into an enclosure the zoo is at fault

Ok, I hadn't seen that video- I can see it was a last resort.

It doesn't stop me thinking it's not right that the gorilla had to die just for being where he should have been and that actually we shouldn't keep these animals anywhere near people if this can happen.

Nor wondering what a low life you have to be to video that happening.

I'm not saying the gorilla's life takes priority over the child.

Its what you are implying though.

And I can understand a parent with multiple kids taking their eye off one for a short while in what they would think was a safe environment. No cars about, etc. It's not unusual to see kids running ahead of their parents in zoos.

Course it's not right that a gorilla had to die. It's awful. They are part of the breeding program and are very valuable.

BUT the zoo failed him. That child should not have been able to fall into the enclosure.

Sedation wouldn't have worked. He was too wound up and most sedation needs a calm environment to work. It also takes too long and in his confusion could have lashed out. Shooting was the only option

right decision in the end, the gorilla could have killed that boy in an instant.

If it were someone else's child does anyone really think they'd say.. let's give it a minute see if the tranquiliser works? No chance.

People setting up FB pages and what not need to get a grip.

The zoo keepers probably feel shit enough already.

Their security needs to looked at and fast.

Ive been invited to a facebook page already i have a few animal rights friends i declined

^^ in your opinion

I imagine the keepers are devestated

What could they have done bear? Really?

They tried to coax him inside. The two females went, he didn't.
Sedation WOULD NOT have worked.

They could have waited yeah prehaps. In that time the gorilla could have severely harmed him and killed him.

I LOVE gorillas. They are one of my favourite animals. But even I can see the zoo were backed into a corner

It is the zoos fault.

If the fencing had been sufficient, the boy wouldn't have got in and the poor gorilla wouldn't have needed to be shot.

Comments ive seen online are awful.

Blaming the mother (no mention of dad). People saying she should be shot, report her to child services dept, people saying zoo should sue her, that she's a crap parent, etc.

Some people saying she probably shoved the kid on purpose to get compensation!!

If your 4 year old fell into that enclosure, if you had a gun you'd shoot the gorilla dead yourself. Those that say you wouldnt are liars.

need having watched that video I agree that nothing else could have been done. I still think the fact a child ended up in a gorilla's pen is the much bigger issue.

This kind of thing should just not be able to happen.

Having read more clearly the zoo is at fault and has failed in its duty of care. Personally I think it should be closed and the animals rehomed to more responsible zoos. There is no excuse for what happened.