I’ve got mixed feelings about the gorilla that was shot at the Cincinatti zoo because a four year old had wandered into the enclosure.
He was treating the child very gently
I like gorillas, I like it that there is an animal so much like us, and I think that human/gorilla communication will continue to evolve until one day, one smart gorilla will have enough sign language to say “WTF! This is a fucking zoo! How would you like it if we kept your twiggy ass in a zoo?”
And, according to most eye-witnesses, the gorilla was actually being protective of the child, and helpful. Then, boom, he was shot dead. His name was Harambe. He was 17 years old.
I don’t blame the parents. Well, maybe a little bit, but I can’t say my two never got out of my sight, never gave us a scare. They never fell into the gorilla pen at the zoo, though. Touch wood.
I blame the zoo a little bit. Not for the decision to fire, although that may have been a bit hasty as well. It did happen in Cincinnati. Maybe the zookeepers mistook Harambe for a 12 year old black child.
No, I mean for not having a fence that would keep 4 year olds out. The zookeeper, quite glibly, said “Do you know any 4 year olds? They can climb over anything.”
Do you know, sir, that a lot of people visiting your zoo are 4 year olds and it’s kind of your job to maintain a fence they can’t get over?
You can’t blame the child, who was just being naturally curious. You can’t blame Harambe, he did nothing aggressive.
I guess there’s no point in blaming anybody. But, it’s a tragedy. RIP, Harambe.
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