[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

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