THERE has been an online backlash against a zoo’s decision to shoot a gorilla after a boy fell into its cage in the USA.
17-year-old male gorilla, Harambe, was killed on Saturday, May 28, after the toddler plunged 12 feet into the enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo.
Videos of the shocking incident emerged online showing the gorilla drag the four-year-old child through water inside the enclosure.
The zoo deemed that the child was in a life-threatening situation and decided to shoot the gorilla rather than risk it becoming agitated in the moments a tranquiliser dart would have taken to work.
The boy’s mother has reacted to criticism from animal rights campaigners online who claim she should have been keeping a closer eye on her son.
So lazy parents can't control their wild kids and a beautiful endangered animal gets shot and killed because of it? #harambe #RIPHARAMBE
— L.A (@blxxm83) May 29, 2016
Others leapt to the parents' defence, saying the child should not have been able to get into the enclosure.
I am deeply disturbed by the many attacks on the parents whose child fell into the gorilla cage.
— Jessica Ballinger (@jbtvs) May 31, 2016
Meanwhile, further footage of the incident has emerged which some commentators believe shows the gorilla protecting the child.
Many are questioning whether killing Harambe the gorilla was really the only option: https://t.co/QlfUcCbBgx https://t.co/KNn9JhOYc6
— New Day (@NewDay) May 30, 2016
What do you think?
Was the zoo right to shoot the gorilla?
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