The story has brought global attention to the Cincinnati zoo. While the zoo has many supporters, they also have just as many non-supporters. I watched the video and support the zoo’s decision. Here is why the zoo made the best decision:
A 450 pound silverback gorilla like Harambe could have easily killed the child without using much force.
Had the gorilla killed the child, authorities would still have been forced to kill Harambe.
I have read many Facebook posts and articles about this tragedy. I found many of the comments deplorable. People would have rather seen the boy die instead of the gorilla. Really?
Valuing a gorilla’s life over a child’s life makes you a shoo-in for a Darwin Award, which goes to Homo sapiens with an I.Q. that can fit into a bottle cap.
People are also petitioning and calling for the heads of the boy’s parents. It has become an unreasonable witch-hunt. Several witnesses have said Isiah got away from his parents in seconds. As a grandfather and father, I understand how fast a child can find trouble. Also remember that the zoo has had the same gorilla enclosure for more than 30 years. Before Isiah Gregg, no child had ever climbed into the enclosure. Therefore, the zoo had assumed the exhibit was secure. Thankfully, the precocious child wasn’t killed.
I am confident the Cincinnati Zoo will make the necessary adjustments to prevent another similar incident in the future. It’s unfortunate that Harambe died, but he was unpredictable. No one will ever know his intentions once the child was within his grasp.
People chastised zoo officials for not tranquilizing Harambe. The zoo had good reasons for not using tranquilizers. One, it can take minutes to become effective. Two, Harambe could have become agitated enough to harm the child. I am not an animal expert or claim to know anything about primates. But, animal experts like Jack Hannah support the zoo’s decision. Hannah, a celebrity animal keeper, said killing the gorilla was necessary to save the boy. He also agreed with zoo officials about not using a tranquilizer dart.
Finally, here’s something to ponder. What if your child fell into a gorilla enclosure? Would you worry more about the gorilla’s life? It’s easy to become judgmental when it’s someone else facing distress. Nevertheless, once the child fell into the gorilla enclosure, zoo officials had to react immediately. We should commend the Cincinnati Zoo for placing a child’s life above an animal they once cared for and loved.
Marc is a grandparent and longtime resident of Clermont County. To contact him, visit his website http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and blog at www.wisegrandpa.com.