Harambe’s lasting legacy should focus on zoo safety and parental responsibility

The killing of a 17-year-old Western lowland gorilla to protect a 4-year-old boy who had fallen into the animal’s exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo last weekend has stirred up a hornet’s nest of agitated debate around the world.

Was the zoo justified in its decision to shoot to kill the primate rather than use a stun gun to tranquilize him?

Should the zoo or parents be held accountable for the tragedy, up to and including possible criminal charges?

Should the placement of wild animals in captivity to be gawked at for amusement value follow the same path toward extinction as that taken by the performing Ringling Brothers circus elephants earlier this year?

There are few easy answers to any of these and other vexing questions stemming from the shooting death of the gorilla named Harambe, which in Africa, means “a rallying cry.”

Ironically, thousands around the world are now rallying around the gorilla, and a massive demonstration on his behalf is planned Sunday at the zoo.

The zoo staunchly stands by its decision to use lethal force to subdue the gorilla, fearing a tranquilizer may have agitated Harambe more and put the child in danger of death.

Jack Hanna, widely respected Columbus Zoo director emeritus, agreed. He said he saw the video of Harambe jerking the boy through the water and knew what would happen if the animal wasn’t killed. “I’ll bet my life on this, that child would not be here today,” Hanna said.

Though we regret that an innocent living creature had to be shot down, saving the child had to be priority No. 1 for all involved in the heat and chaos of the moment on Friday. But neither the zoo nor the parents should be automatically spared of any responsibility for the disturbing fate that befell Harambe.

The Hamilton County prosecutor’s office is investigating the incident, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking into any possible violations by the zoo of the Animal Welfare Act. Those investigations should proceed with all due diligence.

‘A HUGE LOSS’

In the meantime, however, we join those throughout the world in mourning Harambe. “This is a huge loss for the zoo family and the gorilla population worldwide,” Thane Maynard, director of the zoo, said Monday.

The gorilla had just turned 17, and zoo officials had hopes of breeding him in the future. The 450-pound primate still had many good years left as the average age for his species is about 50.

In the aftermath of the shooting, some have called for the closing of zoo exhibits in which gorillas and other wild animals are held in unnatural settings for pure entertainment and profit value. Given the enduring popularity of zoological parks in the U.S., it would appear unlikely that momentum for their wholesale shutdown would build anytime soon.

But there are measures that zoos and zoo spectators, particularly parents and guardians of young children, can take to ensure that the tragedy in Cincinnati is not repeated.

Zoos can take steps to maximize safety and to ensure children are never placed in harm’s way. In Cincinnati, the fact that a 4-year old toddler could easily slip away from his parents and minutes later maneuver himself into the arms of a gorilla underscores the likelihood that zoo officials in the Queen City could have done a better job at building walls of separation.

Perhaps more importantly, parents must recognize that zoos are not baby-sitters or playgrounds. They can and have been breeding grounds for danger.

In the past 26 years, there have been 256 injuries from animal attacks at accredited and nonaccredited zoological parks, menageries and wild-animal venues in the United States, according to the animal advocacy group Born Free. Thirty-three victims died from their injuries.

Parents should follow such strategies as never letting their children out of their sight, never attempting to lean over or climb over railings and never frightening animals with mocking gestures from behind safety glass enclosures. In short, children should be taught to respect animals and their surroundings.

Such strict parental oversight, coupled with air-tight safety protocols at all zoos, can go far toward creating constructive and compassionate change out of last week’s tragic animal sacrifice in Cincinnati.