General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: In Gorilla's Death, Critics Blame Mother, Cincinnati Zoo [View all]nolabear
(41,990 posts)I get that you don't like the whole idea of how we humans have interacted with animals. I respect that. But as someone who long ago worked in an animal sanctuary with some animals who by their nature were dangerous for us to interact with without real care and a whole lot of rules and equipment, I can tell you there is no perfect way out of that. Like it or not, that situation was what it was, the child was in a great deal of danger not because that wonderful animal had any evil intent but because it was a young male gorilla and not a single one of us knew what he was thinking. He was clearly curious and responding to the boy in a way we could easily interpret as protective or non-threatening, but even that behavior could result in the boy's death as he "carried" the boy or maneuvered him in a way a human child's body cannot deal with. Tranquilizers take time to work and the effect leading up to the gorilla becoming passive could easily result in behavior that is even for an animal "irrational" and dangerous.
I'm deeply, deeply sorry that this magnificent creature lost his life. I wish it had been otherwise. I wish that enclosure had been child-proof in a way it wasn't. But it wasn't murder. It was a tragedy and no one wanted it. They are mourning. You are mourning. As am I.