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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DancingDinosaur · 30/05/2016 23:35

Nobody wants the animals to die unnecessarily, but more so, surely, we don't want vulnerable humans (kids, those with MH issues, etc) to face an horrific death?

No of course we don't. Apart from the more toxic people who live amongst us.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:35

Quite frankly my child wouldn't have had the chance because I have this overwhelming fear of being near the edge of things and dropping them over the edge (be it a camera, bag, child whatever) so I don't go close to fences nor do my children

TheFairyCaravan · 30/05/2016 23:36

Jesus Wept! There are some right cunts on this thread!

When I took my kids to the zoo had one of said "I want to play with the gorillas" or "I want to swim in the water" I wouldn't have thought they could because, you know, it's a dangerous animal and there should be no way on this earth that anyone should be able to get in that enclosure.

None of us are perfect, we've all taken our eyes of the kids at some point. You're a complete liar if you say you haven't. Mine are 19&21 now, and a hell of a lot of luck has got them where they are now I can tell you.

Of and for fucks sake, stop blaming the mother. The little boy has 2 parents, he had a father there too. I'm sick of her getting the complete blame and being bashed by other mothers. It's bloody shameful.

GreaseIsNotTheWord · 30/05/2016 23:36

After all they are a domesticated abundant species, not an endangered one

And so fucking what.

An animal is an animal. Whether last remaining gorilla or 'abundant' dog.

Why does anyone care about the outcome of endangered species? Why? Do you think the gorilla's know or care? When they're gone, they're gone.

Oh yes - endangered species matter because humans want to see the pretty animals go on. We want them kept around, for our own selfish reasons.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:36

No I don't WANT people do die. It's about taking appropriate preventative measures

But human v endangered species? Yes endangered species should have the upper hand

DancingDinosaur · 30/05/2016 23:37

Quite frankly my child wouldn't have had the chance because I have this overwhelming fear of being near the edge of things and dropping them over the edge (be it a camera, bag, child whatever) so I don't go close to fences nor do my children
Oh well, thats ok then Hmm

e1y1 · 30/05/2016 23:37

Yes the parents are totally to blame IMO. A child does not accidentally fall into an enclosure unless they weren't being watched. Some parents need to bloody learn to watch their children properly.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:38

Well you asked about me and my children so I told you the honest answer!

DancingDinosaur · 30/05/2016 23:38

But human v endangered species? Yes endangered species should have the upper hand

Nope, sorry, they shouldn't.

FlyingElbows · 30/05/2016 23:38

It seems people have absolutely no understanding of how aggressive male animals can be or how strong the gorillas are. That animal could have snapped that child like a twig. It's a zoo animal not a domestic pet. It's not going to play nice because the zookeeper said so! With regard to tranquillisers they take time to work and tranquillised animals can become distressed and panic. There's also the very real risk if missing the gorilla and darting the child. Enough tranquilliser to be effective in an adult gorilla would kill a child. There was only one choice in this situation. It's sad but the alternative is unthinkable. And as for nature... we're the dominant species, this is nature playing out before you.

PurpleDaisies · 30/05/2016 23:38

No I don't WANT people do die. It's about taking appropriate preventative measures

You have explicitly said that when those preventative measures failed and a little boy ended up in the enclosed with an increasingly agitated gorilla the little boy should have been left to die.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:38

And that's your opinion which you are perfectly entitled to hold.

DancingDinosaur · 30/05/2016 23:39

And that's your opinion which you are perfectly entitled to hold.

And one that the zoo held too Smile

GreaseIsNotTheWord · 30/05/2016 23:39

That doesn't answer the question Toxic.

Take your own possible blame or fault out of it. Your child goes to the zoo with grandparents/school whoever.

They end up in the gorilla cage. Would you be happy for the natural consequences to play out if it WAS your child?

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:39

No. I said natural consequences. That boy may not have died (he may have but equally may not have).

maddening · 30/05/2016 23:40

I agree op - zoo totally at fault, the fence should not be breach-able by a 4 yr old.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:41

And I'm telling you plainly my children would not even be in that situation.

monkeywithacowface · 30/05/2016 23:41

Oh now I am intrigued about your views on war Toxic! Come on do tell!

Just whilst we're being all controversial and all that I would rather see animals become extinct than bred in captivity. Rather than sponsor a zoo animal I would happily sponsor a vigilante type chap who hangs around in the wild and shot humans that were targeting endangered species. Think about it "For just £3 a month Edward will wander around the congo and shoot the fuck out of poachers"

PurpleDaisies · 30/05/2016 23:41

And I'm telling you plainly my children would not even be in that situation.
You would have got exactly the same answer from the parents of this child if you had asked them a week ago.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:42

monkey ha ha the thing is some people probably would go for that

My views on war will get me accused of derailing the thread (plus I'm getting rsi in my thumbs so need to go to bed)Grin

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2016 23:43

I've trekked with gorillas. They are wonderful animals and I think the world would be a worse place without them. But my child vs. the last breeding pair? The gorillas get it without a second's thought. I imagine that if I had a gorilla baby and the parent didn't like it, I'd be dead too. Because protecting our young is what apes do; us and them.

I'm going to start blaming the father. For balance.

ToxicBits · 30/05/2016 23:43

purple difference being it did happen to them. My dc are at an age where they're too big an belligerent to be at risk now anyway

bakeoffcake · 30/05/2016 23:43

I too would like to hear a bit more about your views on war Toxic They sound very interestingHmm

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2016 23:44

My child escaped at a dinosaur exhibit once. Just glad now those weren't real.

charliethebear · 30/05/2016 23:44

It was entirely the zoos fault, no child should be able to get in the enclosure. They shouldn't be relying on parents to be watching their children to stop them getting into enclosures of dangerous animals, children run off all the time and some parents simply dont watch their children well enough. It should be impossible for a small child to get in the enclosure.
They also knew that if a human did get into the enclosure the animal would be killed so presumably to simply protect the animal they would also have to make sure that people couldnt get in.
Yes the parents could have kept a better eye on the child but presumably it was very quick as otherwise someone else would have noticed a small boy trying to get into the enclosure. Its really easy to turn away for a second and suddenly your 4 year old is gone and at a zoo I wouldn't be worried about my child getting into an animals enclosure. Although now I might be