Dozens of animal rights advocates and others held a Memorial Day vigil at the Cincinnati Zoo in remembrance of a gorilla that was fatally shot to protect a 4-year-old boy who entered its exhibit.
The male western lowland gorilla named Harambe was killed Saturday by a special zoo response team that feared the boy’s life was in danger. Video taken by zoo visitors showed the gorilla at times appeared to be protective of the boy but also dragged him through the shallow moat.
Anthony Seta, an animal rights activist in Cincinnati, said the purpose of Monday’s vigil wasn’t to point fingers. Rather, he said, it was a tribute to Harambe, who turned 17 the day before he was shot.
The zoo’s director, Thane Maynard, said its dangerous-animal response team, consisting of full-time animal keepers, veterinarians and security staff, made the right call to kill the gorilla. A tranquilizer wouldn’t have immediately felled the gorilla, leaving the child in danger, Maynard said.
On Monday, he said the zoo had received messages of support and condolences from around the world.
“This is very emotional and people have expressed different feelings,” Maynard said by email. “Not everyone shares the same opinion and that’s okay. But we all share the love for animals.”
The boy who entered into the exhibit was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for treatment. His parents said in a statement Sunday that he was “doing just fine.”
The zoo said that it’s the first such spectator breach at Gorilla World since it opened in 1978 and that the exhibit undergoes regular outside inspections.