‘She was attending to her children by all witness accounts and the 3-year-old just scampered off, ‘ he told reporters on Monday.
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Stop Animal Exploitation Now, a Cincinnati-based animal rights group, said it had filed a federal complaint against the zoo with the US Department of Agriculture.
The Gorilla World Exhibit will reopen Tuesday with a new barrier in place. He fell more than 10 feet into a shallow moat, where a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe dragged him around.
Angry critics had lashed out at Gregg, claiming she failed to properly care for her child – a flub that cost 17-year-old gorilla Harambe his life, they said.
The zoo said that there had been no earlier breaches in Gorilla World’s 38-year history and that the previous barrier had passed multiple inspections by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which accredits zoos.
Despite Isiah being able to easily scale the fence and reach the enclosure, the zoo has insisted the barriers made it safe. The boy’s father was not present, the mother had gone to the zoo with a friend.
Legal experts have said the prosecution on child endangerment, or similar charges, seems unlikely.
“Had she been in the bathroom smoking crack and let her kids run around the zoo that’ll be a different story”.
In a statement, the family said it was pleased with the decision.
Police released 911 tapes of calls after the boy fell.
“‘I want to go in the monkeys, the gorillas, I want to go in” and she kept saying, “No you don’t, no you don’t'”, O’Connor said.
Zoo visitors look at protestors and mourners from a walk bridge during a vigil for the gorilla Harambe outside the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Monday, May 30, 2016, in Cincinnati.
“He’s dragging my son!”
After reviewing the evidence and witnesses statements, as well as a family visit by Job and Family Services, Deters said his office would not file charges. “I can’t watch this”, Michelle Gregg reportedly yelled frantically into the phone as she shouted for her son to, “Be calm”.
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The boy’s family has expressed gratitude to the zoo for protecting his life.
