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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI have nothing but sympathy for the Cincinnati zoo staff
These people had to make a heartbreaking decision. Second guessing them strikes me as ridiculous. Whatever Harambe was doing, whatever his intention toward the kid, a 4 year old is vulnerable to grave injury from an animal that size. I don't believe for a second that the decision was a hasty or careless one.
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)It's a tragedy.
At the same time, I admit to being appalled at those who equate an animal's life with a human's life.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)He was a magnificent animal, but he could not be permitted to seriously injure (or worse) a child. Blaming the parents might help some to cope, but what if that child had died and it could have been prevented?
There was a incident several years ago at the Pittsburgh Zoo where a pack of African dogs mauled a toddler to death. Horrible and very traumatizing.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)It's good for kids and others to see these magnificent animals, but the whole zoo thing just makes me a little sick. Would prefer IMAX zoos, or something, where animals are in the wild.
harrose
(380 posts)... but it was also the correct one. To have to shoot an animal they've been caring for for years had to be heartbreaking. My sympathies to them.
cali
(114,904 posts)before they shot Harambe
I stand corrected then.
Marengo
(3,477 posts)Their level of devotion to preservation and education is profound. We can only imagine the anguish of the staff that had to make the decision and actually pull the trigger. These people are not killers, quite the opposite.
nolabear
(41,987 posts)The internet has been the WORST for letting people who know nothing deride others for making impossible choices.
rurallib
(62,423 posts)somehow there is a hole that got by some inspections.
Those folks had to make one really tough decision in an instant.