Gorilla shot Dead

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networkn

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#196422 30-May-2016 15:48

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11647535

What a horrible lose-lose situation for everyone involved.

Obviously, opinions abound everywhere, and to some degree comments around "shoot the least endangered species" vs the thought of what I'd want done if my 4 year old ended up in a pit (regardless of who's fault it ultimately was).

The loss of this beautiful creature seems intolerable, as is the thought of a young child being in danger.

I am really not sure which side of this I fall really. Just a horrible situation.

One would hope a less fatal solution could have been found, but it's so very easy to look at the situation in reflection.

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#1562408 30-May-2016 15:52

One thing came to mind, a four year old should never have been able to get into the enclosure, they really need to re examine the barriers. A terrible situation for all concerned and only those that were on the scene at the time

could best assess what action was the most appropriate.

networkn

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#1562411 30-May-2016 15:57

MikeB4:

One thing came to mind, a four year old should never have been able to get into the enclosure, they really need to re examine the barriers. A terrible situation for all concerned and only those that were on the scene at the time

could best assess what action was the most appropriate.

Yeah, I was actually going to put that in my OP but forgot!

It's a real shame the Gorilla didn't respond to the trainers. Thing is, a 200KG Gorilla could kill a kid in a split second. If they tranq the Gorilla and he falls on the kid...

nathan

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#1562412 30-May-2016 15:59

My guess is they shot as the zoo would be liable

The exhibit has been open what 30 years with no problem

I believe at the end of the day it's the parents responsibility to control your offspring

The insurance thing is weird here in the US. I broke my finger playing rugby within a week of arriving etc. My insurance company grilled me to find out who owned the ball, who threw the ball, who game me permission to be on the field etc all to find someone to sue to pay my (outrageously overpriced) medical bills

Pretty sad for the gorilla and more so the rest of the gorillas left mourning him

blakamin

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#1562416 30-May-2016 16:04

I'm with the "Why/How can a 4yo get through a fence into the enclosure?" crowd.

Parents should keep an eye on kids, but 2-4yo's can be quick. How many get run over in driveways or drown every year because someone "turned my back for a second"?

Still sucks they had to kill the gorilla. :(

And I don't agree with the stupid petition.

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#1562417 30-May-2016 16:06

I may get a bit of flack for this, however, in the choice between an innocent child and an endangered Gorilla, unfortunately for the Gorilla, the child will always win for me.

Ok, maybe the parents weren't perfect, however, to suggest that the child should die is not even an option I would think about for a second.

As have been explained, tranquilisers do not work immediately and could result in the Gorilla becoming more aggressive.

If it was a drunk person annoying the Gorilla, my decision may be a bit more difficult, but, who's to determine between drunkenness, mental illness, stupidity etc at the time.

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#1562418 30-May-2016 16:06

networkn:

If they tranq the Gorilla and he falls on the kid...

Or they dart him and he gets angry/scared while holding the 4yo?

networkn

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#1562419 30-May-2016 16:06

blakamin:

I'm with the "Why/How can a 4yo get through a fence into the enclosure?" crowd.

Parents should keep an eye on kids, but 2-4yo's can be quick. How many get run over in driveways or drown every year because someone "turned my back for a second"?

Still sucks they had to kill the gorilla. :(

And I don't agree with the stupid petition.

Yeah, I guess overall, and thinking about it, there should really be no way for any small person to get through that gap. They will learn from it I guess, but what a high price to pay for an educational experience.

I agree that kids are so quick. I consider myself a responsible parent who watches their kids carefully, but it's not impossible the same thing could happen to anyone.

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#1562422 30-May-2016 16:16

It article said that the barriers had been in place for 35 odd years without problems. So reading between the lines, they were following old standards, rather than new ones. It had to be shot as it wasn't following it's commands so wasn't behaving as it should, and if it had killed the child or seriously injured it, they would have had far bigger problems. I think the right decision was made in the circumstances and the decision had to be made quickly. But the child should never had made it into the enclosure. Not sure how much fault the parents have, as the enclosures should be impossible for a child to enter anyway. Looks like it was a pretty outdated type of zoo.

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#1562428 30-May-2016 16:24

I saw the video of the Gorilla dragging the child around through that river - he was really moving. It looked as if all it would have taken is the child's head to hit something hard at that speed and it would have been goodnight and good luck.

Unfortunately, the Gorilla had to be stopped, and I guess a bullet is the quickest and best way to do it.

cruxis

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#1562461 30-May-2016 16:37

Just n saying I reckon a 4 year old could get into Orana parks brand new gorilla enclosure if not watched. A adult with ease. Gotta survive the 10 meter drop though.

Come to think of it a lot of enclosures a child could get in. Even the lions a child can go up and stick a arm through the fence. They are designed to keep the animals in Not people out. The rhinos paddock could walk through the gap between the posts if you wanted to die.

JayADee

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#1562738 31-May-2016 06:57

Human life has to come first and shooting it was the safest thing to do but I also questioned how a four year old could make it into the enclosure.

The other thing I was thinking is how traumatic for the kid. The fall, being draggied by a gorilla then having it shot while standing over you.

I still feel bad about the gorilla and it's status as a species though.

vexxxboy

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#1562744 31-May-2016 07:25

this sums it up for me .

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/30/opinions/gorilla-zoo-death-dont-judge-mel-robbins/

Common sense is not as common as you think.

YJ

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#1562746 31-May-2016 07:36

This reminded me the similar situation in Delhi zoo, but it was the tiger.

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#1562752 31-May-2016 08:13

Zoo security boss had no choice. If the kid was harmed he would be fired, sued to bankruptcy, and maybe jailed. End of story on the question of why the shooting.

profrink

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#1562753 31-May-2016 08:15

I honestly can't believe people are up in arms about the decision at the lethal shot.

Is it devastating we have lost an endangered animal? Absolutely. But there was a situational thought processes undertaken, with the highest priority being to ensure the safety of the child.

If you listen to the actual interview with the staff, they explain exactly how they had considered using tranquilizer darts, and why they ultimately did not deploy them.

Am I an expert? Nope. But I sure as hell would rather trust the decision making of the people dealing with these animals on a daily basis, over a bunch of people who have watched 'Born to be Wild' or 'Dunston Checks In' a couple of times.

I'd be focusing on how the child even managed to get in to the enclosure in the first place.

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