On 28th May 2016, a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe was shot and killed at Cincinnati Zoo after a 4-year-old boy fell into the enclosure.
According to a statement from the Cincinnati Fire Department, the gorilla had been “violently dragging and throwing the child”.
However many have slammed the zoo’s decision to shoot the 400lb animal, insisting that the gorilla was simply protecting the child.
Others have spoken out against the boy’s mum, insisting that she is to blame for the creature’s death - and that she should be prosecuted for neglecting her child.
“According to news reports, the zoo had a steel grate barrier, a rail fence, a series of bushes, and a 12-foot moat. Zoos can’t protect against every form of stupid. The parents here need to be charged,” fumed one.
Another added: “I’m so confused! Please someone help me understand this! Why was killing Harambe the only option??? I’m so furious at the parents of this child!
“I understand kids walk away and it gets crazy at big public places but how how how did the child have that long without parental guidance to fall into the moat? Heartbreaking! So confused about the solution of poor Harambe. Hoping the parents suffer the consequences.”
However Deirdre Lykins, who was an eyewitness to the shocking incident, has now spoken up in defence of the boy’s mum, insisting “accidents happen”.
Taking to Facebook, she wrote: “My family and I decided to go to the zoo yesterday after visiting my niece at Cincinnati Children’s hospital. For those of you that have already heard, there was a terrible accident there yesterday. And since every news media has covered this story, I don't feel bad telling our side.
“This was an accident! A terrible accident, but just that!”
Deirdre continued: “My husband's voice is the voice talking to the child in one of the videos. I was taking a pic of the female gorilla, when my eldest son yells, ‘what is he doing?’
“I looked down, and to my surprise, there was a small child that had apparently, literally "flopped" over the railing, where there was then about 3 feet of ground that the child quickly crawled through! I assumed the woman next to me was the mother, getting ready to grab him until she says, ‘Whose kid is this?’
“None of us actually thought he'd go over the nearly 15 foot drop, but he was crawling so fast through the bushes before myself or husband could grab him, he went over!”
She explained that the child’s mother had been searching for him prior to the incident, saying: “The crowed got a little frantic and the mother was calling for her son. Actually, just prior to him going over, but she couldn't see him crawling through the bushes!
“She said ‘He was right here! I took a pic and his hand was in my back pocket and then gone!’ As she could find him nowhere, she looks to my husband (already over the railing talking to the child) and asks, ‘Sir, is he wearing green shorts?’
“My husband reluctantly had to tell her yes, when she then nearly had a break down! They are both wanting to go over into the 15 foot drop, when I forbade my husband to do so, and attempted to calm the mother by calling 911 and assure her help was on the way.
“Neither my husband or the mother would have made that jump without breaking something!”
Deirdre continued to describe how the gorilla became ‘very violent’ - despite the fact it initially set out to protect the toddler.
She said: “I wasn't leaving with my boys, because I didn't trust my husband not to jump in and the gorilla did just seem to be protective of the child. It wasn't until the gorilla became agitated because of the nosey, dramatic, helpless crowd that the gorilla violently ran with the child!
“And it was very violent; although I think the gorilla was still trying to protect, we're taking a 400 lb gorilla throwing a 40 lb toddler around! It was horrific!”
The mum finished by praising the staff at Cincinnati Zoo for their actions, saying: “The zoo responded very quickly, clearing the area and attempting to save both the child and the gorilla! The right choice was made.
“Thank God the child survived with non-life threatening, but serious injuries! This was an open exhibit! Which means the only thing separating you from the gorillas, is a 15 ish foot drop and a moat and some bushes!”
She also defended the boy’s mother, saying: “This mother was not negligent and the zoo did an awesome job handling the situation! Especially since that had never happened before!
“Thankful for the zoo and their attempts and my thoughts and prayers goes out to this boy, his mother and his family.”
The toddler is said to be recovering from concussion and a few cuts and scrapes.
Meanwhile police in Ohio have said the boy’s parents could face criminal charges after zookeepers were forced to shoot and kill the animal.
And around 85,000 people have signed an online petition seeking “Justice for Harambe”, calling for the boy’s parents to be “held accountable for their actions for not supervising their child”.
They said: “This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy's parents did not keep a closer watch on the child.
“We […] want the parents to be held accountable for the lack of supervision and negligence that caused Harambe to lose his life.”
They added: “We believe that this negligence may be reflective of the child's home situation.”
Defending herself from critics, the boy’s mother wrote on Facebook: “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.”
A family statement on Sunday also expressed condolences for the animal's death, reading: “We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff.
“We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla.”
Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, also stood by the zoo’s decision to shoot the gorilla, despite lamenting the loss of “an incredibly magnificent animal”.
He said: “Looking back, we would make the same decision.
“The gorilla was clearly agitated. The gorilla was clearly disoriented.”
You can read the zoo’s full statement about the incident here.
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