Sedation isn't instant the way it is in the movies.
As far as where the parents were, kids can get away fast, and can squeeze through things as well as a cat can at times. Can't say yet whether they were negligent.
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I'd say the zoo should be partially at fault here too. There should be absolutely 100% no possible way for visitors to enter any enclosure, let alone one that contains extremely large and powerful primates.
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I'd say the zoo should be partially at fault here too. There should be absolutely 100% no possible way for visitors to enter any enclosure, let alone one that contains extremely large and powerful primates.
The zoo is 100% responsible for this, it's not like it was some drunked/ drugged up 20 yr old on a dare, it was a FOUR YEAR OLD. I'm a huge critic of "modern parenting" and we don't know all the circumstances here, but a fricken toddler stumbled into the gorilla cage. How is that even possible?
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There was a case like this a few years back somewhere else, kid was injured falling into the enclosure, the gorilla picked the toddler up and cradled him until the keepers got to the child, gorillas are a huge peaceful animal that are totally protective of their young.
I'm not going to criticize the zoo but I doubt the child was in any danger at all from the ape, the parents on the other hand will probably manage kill the poor wee #######.
How does a gorilla differentiate between a human adult and child? I would have thought for the most part we look entirely different from them so they could just sense the child as any other threat or intruder.
How does a gorilla differentiate between a human adult and child? I would have thought for the most part we look entirely different from them so they could just sense the child as any other threat or intruder.
I suspect they know it isn't an ape but something that small isn't a threat at all and their instinct to protect the groups young overrides any misgivings.
There was a case like this a few years back somewhere else, kid was injured falling into the enclosure, the gorilla picked the toddler up and cradled him until the keepers got to the child, gorillas are a huge peaceful animal that are totally protective of their young.
I'm not going to criticize the zoo but I doubt the child was in any danger at all from the ape, the parents on the other hand will probably manage kill the poor wee #######.
Just because something happened one way once doesn't mean it was going to happen that way this time. I think it's pretty silly to state what was likely as opposed to the zoo staff who were there. It's not like they're just going to easily decide to kill the gorilla.
Just because something happened one way once doesn't mean it was going to happen that way this time. I think it's pretty silly to state what was likely as opposed to the zoo staff who were there. It's not like they're just going to easily decide to kill the gorilla.
I'm not arguing with their call, the massive financial and ethical risk if something went wrong is just to great for them to chance it, I'm just saying gorillas are incredibly gentle creatures, very protective of young and if the gorilla had meant to hurt the kid that video would have lasted around three seconds to a soundtrack of horrified shrieks and puking.
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That makes me feel awful. On one hand the gorilla seemed to be protective of the child, but on the other it could have snapped him in half at any second.
Incidents like this really make me wish we had less zoos for entertainment and more for the protection of endangered/injured/sick animals
No one had gotten into the enclosure for 38 years.
I look forward to any more details to emerge. I hope this wasnt a case of parents taking a selfie with the kid and dropping him in by accident. After 38 years of visitors safely passing through, you have to wonder what was different on this day. Instagram?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek Sutton
The zoo is 100% responsible for this, it's not like it was some drunked/ drugged up 20 yr old on a dare, it was a FOUR YEAR OLD. I'm a huge critic of "modern parenting" and we don't know all the circumstances here, but a fricken toddler stumbled into the gorilla cage. How is that even possible?
As with most things, I wouldn't rush to judgement based on a poorly shot web video. Yes the gorilla looked like he wasn't harming the boy but the situation is still extremely dangerous. Yes the gorilla may not have intended to harm the boy in that moment, but this is an extremely strong and unpredictable animal.
I suggest reading up on gorillas and what they do in their troops. In the wild they are consantly at war with other troops and within their own troop for male dominance. When a new male assumes leadership he kills all the children of the old dominant male. They are extremely territorial animals, and extremely vicious.
I am no Jane Goodall, but this is a awful situation where this course of action had to happen as to eliminate the very real risk boy wouldn't be killed or seriously injured. The screaming and panic of the people above could have set the gorilla off. Who knows, but I understand that this was as dangerous a situation as him falling into an alligator pit.
Now what happens next, yes a full review should be done and corrective action taken. However, in the moment I think the zoo made the 100% right decision.
As with most things, I wouldn't rush to judgement based on a poorly shot web video. Yes the gorilla looked like he wasn't harming the boy but the situation is still extremely dangerous. Yes the gorilla may not have intended to harm the boy in that moment, but this is an extremely strong and unpredictable animal.
I suggest reading up on gorillas and what they do in their troops. In the wild they are consantly at war with other troops and within their own troop for male dominance. When a new male assumes leadership he kills all the children of the old dominant male. They are extremely territorial animals, and extremely vicious.
I am no Jane Goodall, but this is a awful situation where this course of action had to happen as to eliminate the very real risk boy wouldn't be killed or seriously injured. The screaming and panic of the people above could have set the gorilla off. Who knows, but I understand that this was as dangerous a situation as him falling into an alligator pit.
Now what happens next, yes a full review should be done and corrective action taken. However, in the moment I think the zoo made the 100% right decision.
Dian Fossey
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