Cincinnati Zoo kills gorilla after child gets into his cage, May 28, 2016

[1&2&3]

Full statement from family:

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanGriffinWLWT/status/737973406390452225/

I say good on the family for this statement, even though the cynical side of me says good job, PR firm.

ETA: actually, let me retract that a bit. I would like to see some remorse for the loss of Harambe, maybe a smidgen of self-responsibility?

All right, final ETA I promise. I do hope by saying they are thankful to the zoo that they are NOT planning on filing any kind of lawsuit.

The reason we are not seeing an apology for their son's actions is they feel he did nothing wrong. - it was the zoo's fault! Remember some people never take responsibility, it is always some one else's fault.

Also, they cannot show empathy for the loss of the gorilla as that will go against the lawsuit that is in the works.

I don't want TOS so my mouth will remain shut on other points . Probably the majority of you are thinking them too.

 

[Montjoy]

Looking at the pictures, I think the design is worse then that. The design just encourages children to climb on the railing, so they can see over the stupid bushes. If you look at YouTube videos of the exhibit, children are all over it, climbing on the railing, even sitting on it. The purpose of a railing should be to keep people behind it, not to be used as a platform to climb on it to see over the bushes.

I guess it depends on what people think -- do animals deserve to exist on their own right, or only if they are capable of amusing people?

 

[KaaBoom]

That was one of my first thoughts too, jennapuppy. I would've grabbed their shirts or hands and held on and not let go until we were out of there.

Thats all well and fine, but what would you do when you have four children and only two hands? :thinking:

 

[cujenn81]

I have such a love/hate relationship with zoos. On the one hand, I understand there is a need, or desire, that we (as humans) feel to study animals and to protect a critically endangered species from extinction. On the other hand, I often leave the zoo feeling sad for the caged animals who are stripped from their natural habitat. The animal's agitation at being gawked at (and sometimes even antagonized) for entertainment purposes is clearly evident most of the time.

Human beings are animals, as well. I know I wouldn't be happy if I were taken from my home, where I was free to roam as I pleased, and locked in a fake house behind glass for scientific or entertainment purposes. Clearly, not all animals have the required level of self-awareness to realize this is their current situation, but apes do.

I don't know if a more accommodating solution exists for these animals that would also protect the survival of their species. I don't know if it would be better to just let life play out for them the way it was intended. Evolution and the circle of life and all that... it just makes me sad all around.

I just know how miserable the gorillas seemed the last time few times I've gone to the zoo. They are kept in a "natural open habitat" similar to this one, and the last few times I've been, they've stayed deep in the caves out of public view. Except it isn't really out of public view because our zoo has an indoor walkway with glass windows where you can catch a glimpse of the gorillas inside the cave. The alpha male has been the only one visible (not sure where the mama and baby have been hiding) and he's always sitting in a corner as far from the windows as possible with his back turned to the glass. The only time I've seen him turn around was once... while a dad was recording his son as he repeatedly rapped on the glass... the gorilla turned around and charged in the kid's direction. He stopped short of running into the glass, but you could literally feel the agitation and rage of that animal and it scared me to death. But I left feeling so sorry for him.

I don't know. It's such a complicated issue and there's no clear or easy answer.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Full statement from family:

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanGriffinWLWT/status/737973406390452225/

I say good on the family for this statement, even though the cynical side of me says good job, PR firm.

ETA: actually, let me retract that a bit. I would like to see some remorse for the loss of Harambe, maybe a smidgen of self-responsibility?

All right, final ETA I promise. I do hope by saying they are thankful to the zoo that they are NOT planning on filing any kind of lawsuit.

I would have liked to see sadness for the loss of Harambe too, I wonder why the PR firm didn't include that?

This looks like there's no pending lawsuit to me, thank god!

 

[KaaBoom]

Alright, this photo proves the zoo has some signs at least warning about the potential unpredictable behavior of Gorillas- throwing clumps of dirt, so presumably there are other signs warning humans to stay out of the enclosures, off fences and railings.

That is nothing but speculation. Please try to stick to the facts, and stop spreading misinformation. There is zero evidence that there are any signs telling anyone to stay off the fence. Many Youtube videos even show zoo employees present while children are climbing on the railing.

 

[flourish]

That is nothing but speculation. Please try to stick to the facts, and stop spreading misinformation. There is zero evidence that there are any signs telling anyone to stay off the fence. Many Youtube videos even show zoo employees present while children are climbing on the railing.

To be fair, the poster said "presumably," so they identified their comment as speculation, not as a fact.

 

[KaaBoom]

So she's not accepting accountability for letting her son out of her sight and allowing him to get in there with Harambe, instead she's blaming the zoo. Why of course. And I suppose she could care less that Harambe died due to her negligence as a parent. Why am I not surprised.... Her son had already warned her what he was going to do when he said what he wanted to do. Instead of paying closer attention to him, she ignored him. I'm not about to give this woman a pass on this and blame the zoo just because she as a parent chooses not to take responsibility for her children and their actions. Poor Harambe.

Maybe she thought the designers of the zoo would have been smart enough to put a barrier there to prevent a small child from climbing into the gorilla exhibit. It is the zoo’s responsibility under federal law to keep visitors and animals separate. Not to delegate to parents to make sure that their children stay out of the enclosures.

Even if you people get your wish and she is charged with something (I have no idea what), it will not do one thing to prevent this from happening again. The only thing that will prevent this from happening again, will be for zoos to start to comply with federal regulations and put barriers between visitors and zoo animals.

 

[SophieRose]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...nnati-zoo-incident-still-doing-well/85239880/

Police have wrapped up their investigation without recommending charges against the mother of a 3-year-old boy who witnesses said fell into the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo, according to a source close to the investigation.

 

[KaaBoom]

I guess it depends on what people think -- do animals deserve to exist on their own right, or only if they are capable of amusing people?

Honestly, I think that has already been decided. We are going to have zoos, no matter what. But the deplorable conditions and safety of zoos have to improve.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...nnati-zoo-incident-still-doing-well/85239880/

Police have wrapped up their investigation without recommending charges against the mother of a 3-year-old boy who witnesses said fell into the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo, according to a source close to the investigation.

Well I'm glad, let's hope all the publicity has the effect of making everyone, zoos and visitors, much more aware of the dangers and this tragedy isn't completely senseless.

I hope they build a memorial for Harambe at the zoo.

 

[KaaBoom]

To be fair, the poster said "presumably," so they identified their comment as speculation, not as a fact.

It’s still speculation, and there is zero evidence of it.

 

[flourish]

It’s still speculation, and there is zero evidence of it.

Oh is speculation against the rules?

 

[Portabella]

I want to add something here. I don't care how negligent the parents were, or their backgrounds...I am very happy this little fellow did not die from the fall, or become paralyzed, or that no harm came to him ... I see so much negativity, and we MUST remember we are talking about a three year old, essentially still a baby. I hope he grows up and does something to better our world.... I know this does not lessen the blow of losing this marvelous, endangered Gorilla....but even if he did not listen, this is not his fault, he is a little child. IMHO

 

[LaborDayRN]

The zoo claimed that shooting the tiger was too dangerous because tiger was close to the body of the woman. So don't blame me if I am a little confused. Is it dangerous to shoot an animal who is close to the human? Clearly so. But in shooting of gorilla it's presented as the only safe alternative (as opposed to other ways zookeepers could have used, such as bribing the animal with food or using a tranquilizer).

I think it can be clarified by explaining it was a different zoo, different staff, different training, different situation.

 

[KaaBoom]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...nnati-zoo-incident-still-doing-well/85239880/

Police have wrapped up their investigation without recommending charges against the mother of a 3-year-old boy who witnesses said fell into the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo, according to a source close to the investigation.

I can hear the sighs of disappointment now. That must have taken them all of five minutes.

Meanwhile the U.S. Department of Agriculture is still conducting an investigation into the safety and operation of the zoo. Anybody want to make a bet that the zoo will be cited?

 

[Mrs G Norris]

I can hear the sighs of disappointment now. That must have taken them all of five minutes.

Meanwhile the U.S. Department of Agriculture is still conducting an investigation into the safety and operation of the zoo. Anybody want to make a bet that the zoo will be cited?

Let me think on that, but I'm in for a tenner there'll be 'work done' at the gorilla enclosure this year.

 

[Montjoy]

Honestly, I think that has already been decided. We are going to have zoos, no matter what. But the deplorable conditions and safety of zoos have to improve.

No link here, but many, many years ago I read a history of a country that was preparing for a visit from western royals. The royals in the destination country wanted to appear sophisticated in western ways, and so they asked their envoys about the different things that western people had. There were several suggestions -- things like elevators, flush toilets. The oddest suggestion was to have zoos, so the country (I want to say Turkey, but don't hold me to it) hastily designed what they thought would be a zoo. But they missed the concept, somehow -- it was lost in translation. Shortly before the dignitaries arrived, they stuffed a bunch of cages with all manner of disparate beasts. Basically, whatever exotic animal they could find was thrown into one of a number of cages, so there were predators and prey in the same relatively small cage. It was a bloodbath, with only traumatized animals left living at the time of the visit.

I sometimes think that this is telling tale for even the good zoos, or should I say the better zoos, that exist today, and they are in the minority, sadly enough. Animal lovers do not support zoos.

 

[LaborDayRN]

From your link:

About 181 million people visit U.S. zoos and aquariums every year, according to the American Zoo Association, but only about 20 adults and children have been hurt or killed by zoo animals inside enclosures since 1990

181 million per year x 26 years = 4.7 billion zoo & aquarium visits since 1990.

20 deaths/injuries by zoo animals inside enclosures.

My calculator can't calculate the percentage out to the number of decimal points that would be needed. Around 0.0000000000-something percent.

Obviously, there's not an epidemic of unsafe animal enclosures.

There might, however, be an epidemic of inattentive parents.

Just wanted to bring this forward. It's statistical. Although things to happen, zoo's very rarely have safety issues. Should this enclosure be changed? IMO without a doubt!

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

From your link:

About 181 million people visit U.S. zoos and aquariums every year, according to the American Zoo Association, but only about 20 adults and children have been hurt or killed by zoo animals inside enclosures since 1990

181 million per year x 26 years = 4.7 billion zoo & aquarium visits since 1990.

20 deaths/injuries by zoo animals inside enclosures.

My calculator can't calculate the percentage out to the number of decimal points that would be needed. Around 0.0000000000-something percent.

Obviously, there's not an epidemic of unsafe animal enclosures.

There might, however, be an epidemic of inattentive parents.

Thanks for putting this in perspective.

http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/news/story/0002/20160601/L1N18S1FA_1018761409