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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
Stardust160 · 30/05/2016 22:26

I've been pretty digusted by some of the comments I've seen over fb surely a child's left took priority. I saw the video the gorilla was ragging him around. Better a dead gorilla than a dead child. Yes the parents could of been keeping an eye on the child but the zoo could of had better security.

Original poster
pinkladyapple · 30/05/2016 22:26

The two people who have been the most angry at the mother on my Facebook (again, they only mention the mother and not the father) are two women who have young children themselves.

I think it's along the "ive kept my children safe so why can't they" line of attack. The police aren't pressing charges despite there being lots of witnesses who COULD have said no parent was nearby etc but they haven't.

But nope, keyboard warriors just know they were negligent.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2016 22:26

The gorilla pulled the boy to safety and sat with him. He looked perfectly safe. Not in danger. Male gorillas are really not known for their caring for other's offspring. They kill other baby gorillas at times. The child was in mortal danger.

NewStartNewName · 30/05/2016 22:28

Yea the parents need to take responsibility! When mine were younger and we were at zoos etc I had a death grip on them!! Anywhere near the enclosures they were either on reins or held an adults hand - non negotiable.

MumOnTheRunCatchingUp · 30/05/2016 22:28

Op, why is it 'unfair'

Original poster
pinkladyapple · 30/05/2016 22:28

People saying the gorilla didn't harm the child -

Are you aware that the child is currently still in hospital with serious injuries? And that the gorilla did not leave the child alone, dragging the injured child through water...?

OP posts:
Windsofwinter · 30/05/2016 22:29

Was the child injured by the gorilla or by the 15ft fall? Genuine question.

FuzzyWizard · 30/05/2016 22:30

In fact the closest eyewitness has said that the mother was NOT negligent. That she was trying to find the child within seconds and attempting to reach him before he fell into the enclosure. www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/cincinnati-zoo-eyewitness-defends-mum-8083156?ICID=FB_mirror_main

ConcernedParent88 · 30/05/2016 22:31

Totally agree OP.

The drop was not clearly visible and was behind a hedge in front of which was a low fence with a large gap under the lowest wire, easily big enough for a 4 year old to pass under. The parents weren't to know that there was a sizable gap in the hedge and that behind that hedge was no additional protection.

If I went to a zoo with my 4 and 1 year old I'd not be on the same level of alert as I would when next to a major road. I would parent with the assumption that it would be very difficult if not impossible for a 4 year old to gain access to the enclosure of a dangerous animal, in seconds.

This could have happened to absolutely anyone with a brief distraction and a 4 year old that likes to test boundaries (haha) like most of them do.

Zoo should have made the fence better or made it much much more clear that the potential was there for a child to gain easy access.

The blame here rests entirely with the zoo.

shazzarooney999 · 30/05/2016 22:31

She is to blame,im sorry, she heard her child saying i want to jump in several times and this is from an eye witness, so knowing that she should have kept a close eye on him, but obviously she diddnt.

shazzarooney999 · 30/05/2016 22:32

FuzzyWizard,did you not watch the video on the other page? will give you a better version.

Medusacascade · 30/05/2016 22:33

My child at the same age got into an animal enclosure at a major zoo. He was right next to me. Touching distance. It took one second for him to suddenly leap over the fucking tiny wall. One of the world's most dangerous animals inside. I never saw it coming. It was because he was so close to me that I was able to grab him back. I'm a massively vigilant parent always have been. Just one bloody second.

honeyroar · 30/05/2016 22:33

Anyone who says that gorilla was caring for the child or protecting it is clueless about animals and about how you care for children!! You'd never see a caring gorilla dragging its own baby by the feet while its head bumps about under water! This was a gorilla acting possessively of a new toy, dragging it away from where others could get it.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 22:34

It's 75:25 imo. 75% mothers fault for being negligent 25% zoo for having inadequate fencing.

And I'm being generous with that. Imo it's predominantly the mothers fault

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 30/05/2016 22:35

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

Have you seen the footage?? He dragged the poor boy by his leg through the water, bouncing him around on the way, more than once. I can't imagine many parents would stand by and say "ah that's ok, let's leave him being dragged around a few more minutes by an animal god knows how many times his size until someone can get in there and help the lad out"

I agree with you OP. The parents must be beside themselves and some of the judgemental crap being spouted online is vile

Nataleejah · 30/05/2016 22:35

The child was uninjured. She is partly to blame. The others were those who opted for the kill shot.
A beautiful innocent life was lost.

bakeoffcake · 30/05/2016 22:39

You don't see signs saying "please ensure your child does not climb through the fence" when visiting a zoo. I'd never in a million years think it wold be possible, I expect the parents thought the same.

Wating and making sure they didn't wonder off/ get into people's way, yes, climbing through a fence, no.

I think it is 100% the zoos fault, not the poor mum, who seems to be getting all the blame.

bakeoffcake · 30/05/2016 22:41

"the child was uninjured". Bollocks!

shazzarooney999 · 30/05/2016 22:41

Police in Cincinnati, Ohio said the mother was not currently facing charges but prosecutors could later decide to bring them. Witnesses described seeing the mother with several young children. They heard the boy repeatedly saying he wanted to play with the gorillas.

( so therefore she had previous warning)

The boy then climbed through a barrier at the Gorilla World exhibit and fell 12ft into a shallow moat.

(so shed had her warning yet still taken her eyes off him)

Not one ounce of sympathy for her.

lifesalongsong · 30/05/2016 22:41

Nataleejah - what other option did they have? I've heard a gorilla expert today saying that there wouldn't have been much else they could do

shazzarooney999 · 30/05/2016 22:43

Taken from www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/30/mother-could-face-charges-in-gorilla-shooting-as-she-says-accide/

and the zoo keeper whod brought him up from a baby was heartbroken, all because this mother could not watch her child. shes so lucky she diddnt lose her child, maybe theres an important lesson in this for her.

Mavisblewitt · 30/05/2016 22:45

the boy then climbed through the barrier

This should not have been possible. The zoo should have ensured this.

bakeoffcake · 30/05/2016 22:46

shazza if she had several other children, she couldn't exactly be watching one child all the time, unless she had more than one pair of eyes.

If my child said "I want to play with the guerrilla" I'd probably say "oh do you, he does look friendly doesn't he". No parent would take what the child said as an indication he was going to get in with it!

lifesalongsong · 30/05/2016 22:46

shazza - I'm sure lots of children at a zoo would tell their parents they wanted to play with the animals, I'm also pretty sure that those parents didn't instantly grab hold of their children thinking that they would actually be able to get into the enclosures.

Of all the things to worry about on a day at the zoo I don't suppose gettng into the animal enclosures would feature highly for most people, it certaily didn't for me the last time I went to one, I assume the zoo has secure areas for the dangerous animals

PurpleDaisies · 30/05/2016 22:47

You don't see signs saying "please ensure your child does not climb through the fence" when visiting a zoo. I'd never in a million years think it wold be possible, I expect the parents thought the same.

Absolutely this. The parents clearly didn't have the greatest day at the office when they lost their little boy but there's no way that the zoo weren't at fault for not enduring the enclosure was not possible to enter.