Video Released Of Harambe, Gorilla Killed At Cincinnati Zoo After 3-Year-Old Falls Into Enclosure

A 3-year-old boy slipped into the enclosure of a gorilla named Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo over the weekend, leading zoo workers to kill the primate.

Gorilla Killed At Cincinnati Zoo

Video footage taken by a bystander at the Cincinnati Zoo shows the moment when the child came in contact with the gorilla after slipping away from his parents. The 17-year-old male gorilla is then shown dragging the child along the moat. At one point, he pulled the boy up onto his feet and then looked to be holding hands with him. After dragging him further along the moat, Harambe sat the boy between his legs.

Believing that the child was in danger, the zoo decided the best course of action was to kill the gorilla and ensure the safety of the boy, reported CNN. While the zoo stands by its decision to kill Harambe instead of shooting him with a tranquilizer, many believe that it acted in an extreme manner and that the gorilla was being protective towards the boy rather than threatening.

Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard said of authorities, “They made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy’s life,” adding, “It could have been very bad.”

Also facing criticism are the boy’s parents, who failed to keep their curious son out of the enclosure. A Change.org petition reads, “This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy’s parents did not keep a closer watch on the child. We the undersigned believe that the child would not have been able to enter the enclosure under proper parental supervision. Witnesses claim that they heard the child state that he wished to go into the enclosure and was actively trying to breach the barriers.”

Michelle Gregg, the three-year-old boy’s mother, responded to the criticism on Facebook. “For those of you that have seen the news or been on social media that was my son that fell in the gorilla exhibit at the zoo. God protected my child until the authorities were able to get to him. My son is safe and was able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes… no broken bones or internal injuries,” she said. “As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids. Accidents happen but I am thankful that the right people were in the right place today.”