How you would respond?
This week a 4 year old boy fell into the moat surrounding a silver back gorilla’s enclosure in Cincinnati.
There are so many questions here which will make for debate, and improvements (everywhere I trust).
There are claims that Harambe, the gorilla, was protecting Isaiah, the young boy, and indeed the footage of them together, when both were still, was gentle. Harambe dragged Isaiah through the water at fast speed which was frightening to watch and his size was fearful. However, it does appear that he takes Isaiah’s hand.
I wonder how Isaiah was able to fall into the enclosure. Zoo staff will be reviewing that.
It was fortunate Isaiah did not die in the fall or drown.
It was reported that the screams of onlookers panicked Harambe.
It’s enough to make every parent panic. It’s hard to see the first rules of emergency situations being applied here. I can’t say what I would have done. Jumping in after a child is a distinct possibility and who knows how that would have ended.
Harambe had not hurt Isaiah however I would think that no one could foresee being able to get Isaiah back safely to his mother’s arms. Unfortunately, I agree that Harambe had to be shot. Thankfully, zoo staff seemed to be on hand quickly and I assume the death was as painless as it could be.
Time was of the essence. Decision making was urgent. Knowing who was going to make the decision was vital. It makes you wonder about how you would respond, say on the way home tonight, if something equally as challenging presents itself.
The life of a child absolutely has to come first. I don’t even trust domestic pets with children.
It’s just such a sad incident. We lock animals up so we can view them for our own enjoyment. We take their lives when we have to.
It’s also such a happy incident that Isaiah is safe.
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