Harambe, a 17-year-old who weighed 400 pounds, was shot and killed after he disobeyed orders to leave the enclosure.
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The decision to shoot dead a gorilla as he dragged a four-year-old boy around by the ankle was correct, according to the zoo’s director.
“Every gorilla is critically important, because every gorilla is critically endangered”, said New.
The zoo’s risky animal response team shot and killed the gorilla around 10 minutes after the boy first entered it.
The director said the zoo is devastated by the loss, because they’re one of the key players in captive breeding and conservation of the endangered lowland gorilla.
“We stand by our decision”, he said, reiterating that using a tranquiliser on the190kggorilla could have further threatened the boy because it wouldn’t have taken effect immediately.
It’s said the boy’s father has turned his life around following a number of criminal convictions.
Jerry Stones, facilities director at Gladys Porter Zoo raised Harambe since birth and has worked with the gorilla’s family since they first entered the USA, the Brownsville Herald reported.
“Even under the “best” circumstances, captivity is never acceptable for gorillas or other primates, and in cases like this, it’s even deadly”, PETA said in a statement.
“People can shout at the parents and people can shout at the zoo”, Mr Seta said. “Naturally, we didn’t take the shooting of Harambe lightly”, says Thayne Maynard.
Animal rights group PETA said the zoo could have done more to prevent the death with closer monitoring and immediate action after the attack.
Maynard, with the Cincinnati Zoo, said the decision to kill the gorilla was the right one. Some petitions urged police to hold the child’s parents accountable.
Despite criticism, the zoo director said if he had to do it again, he’d make the same decision.
Gladys Porter Zoo officials say they have received several threatening phone calls and social media messages from people upset about Harambe’s death.
Monday, a handful of mourners created a memorial for the 17-year-old gorilla.
She continued: “As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child, and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids”. There were humans screaming, you can hear it in the video. However, the zoo says his sperm was preserved so his lineage can continue.
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He says Gorilla World could reopen next weekend.
