Gorilla killed

[Mister Agenda]

I know tranquilizers aren't as fast working in real life as in movies, but unless the Gorilla was actively torturing the kid or something, I don't think lethal force was needed. I also know he could have killed the kid instantly too, but I don't think you should kill something because a bad thing might happen.

The gorilla was dragging the child through the water at high speed in a way likely to kill the child or at least traumatise it, there was no option but to kill the gorilla, unfortunate though that was.

Dragging behavior from a silverback is often a prelude to a full-on intimidation display, super dangerous for any mere human to be that close to.

[GrandizerII]

It was the gorilla's way of asserting dominance. In other words, bully behavior. The gorilla did not give two fucks about the wellbeing of a human child. Let's not kid ourselves.

[GrandizerII]

The gorilla was dragging the child through the water at high speed in a way likely to kill the child or at least traumatise it, there was no option but to kill the gorilla, unfortunate though that was.

Dragging behavior from a silverback is often a prelude to a full-on intimidation display, super dangerous for any mere human to be that close to.

Ninja'd ...

[Divinity]

My parents raised 6 kids and none of them "got away".

I bet they did.  You just don't remember it.  They might not remember it either.  I raised six kids, and let me tell you--keeping an eye on them all is NOT fucking easy.  A four year old is fast.  Turn your attention to one of your other kids, and you can turn around and the four year old is off somewhere.  If you're lucky then you're in a store, and there's no danger.

[Catholic_Lady]

I'm appalled by the number of people on social media who have said they should not have killed the gorilla, EVEN IF that meant the boy would die instead. Their rationale was that the gorilla is endangered, and humans are not, so we should put his life above that of a human.

Funny thing is, I highly doubt they would be willing to martyr themselves or one of their own children or loved one for the cause if it was them in that sort of situation. They'd want the animal shot, regardless of whether or not it was endangered. But because it was someone else, and someone else's child, they feel perfectly fine saying the little boy should have been the one to die if that's what it took to keep the gorilla alive.

[Kingpin]

I'm appalled by the number of people on social media who have said they should not have killed the gorilla, EVEN IF that meant the boy would die instead. Their rationale was that the gorilla is endangered, and humans are not, so we should put his life above that of a human.

Funny thing is, I highly doubt they would be willing to martyr themselves or one of their own children or loved one for the cause if it was them in that sort of situation. They'd want the animal shot, regardless of whether or not it was endangered. But because it was someone else, and someone else's child, they feel perfectly fine saying the little boy should have been the one to die if that's what it took to keep the gorilla alive.

Yes CL!  It's EASY to pass judgment and make claims of what SHOULD happen when you are not in that situation.  That's why i said I don't envy that zookeepers judgment call on the necessity to use lethal force.  We should make claims based on how we would react being the mother in that situation.  You could be the President of PETA (though I don't know why you would be at a zoo) and if that was your child, you would pull the trigger yourself.

[pocaracas]

I wonder.... what if they missed the mark with the bullet?
Say... if they had hit an arm or a leg? would he have done all those crazy things he'd also do if shot with a tranquilizer?
Great shot, that must have been... with a kid right there, a few feet away from the mark.
Whoever did it, I salute you!

[LastPoet]

If there were a non lethal sollution... there is not, like in star trek "phasers set to stun" thinguie that would drop such a big ape to the ground immediately. They did what they had to do, and I would take the same decision as they in that split second. Hindsight is 20/20 and while there is some deep human feeling that needs to place blame exists, I find it better to find ways to avoid this from happening again and send word to all the zoos.

At least the child survived. As to the gorilla, he cant think things trough. The handler surely took in mind his knowledge about the animal's behaviour and made the call. A shame indeed and animals should be preserved, but if human life is on the line, there is no doubt in my mind.

[Aroura]

So reading details from other witnesses, and about the enclosure, it appears there was only a low fence and bushes, followed by the drop. This is more and more common in zoos, called open enclosures, so the animals are not caged or walled in, but are open to the natural elements, for their mental and physical health.

The child could easily have gotten through the enclosure, but I do not blame the zoo now that I see it. If the 10 foot drop wasn't enough to have mom or dad pick up the kid or hold his hand....they were completely not paying attention.

A bystander said she saw the toddler as he went to the edge, and she ran to grab him but was not fast enough. The parents didn't even notice until the kid had fallen. Yes, kids get away, in grocery stores and playgrounds. But this was next to a clearly OPEN enclosure. Not the place you set your toddler down and look away.

I'd also like to know if a phone or other device was in play with the mom. If driving while texting is bad, why is it acceptable in other situations where attention is vital? I see people walking and texting, and i certainly see people who's kids are running around wild with there attention completely on their phone instead of kids.

I can't be sure of anything, but from what info I do have, it does appear the mom is at least partly at fault.

Now watch enclosuresome around the country go back to full plexiglass torture rooms, to protect humans from their own stupidity. I

[Chad32]

Well my rationale is that if the animal isn't actively torturing the kid, then maybe take nonlethal action. We don't know what's going through the gorilla's mind. I don't like the idea of killing something because "maybe", or "what if".