Zoo under Fire after Killing a Gorilla

Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard says he would “make the same decision again” after killing a captive gorilla over the weekend.
A 17-year-old gorilla was shot and killed on Saturday after he dragged a three-year-old boy who fell into the zoo’s Gorilla World Exhibit. Officials say the Dangerous Animal Response Team deemed the situation life threatening and made the decision to put down the 400 pound gorilla.
Dozens of people gathered outside the zoo today to honor and pay tribute to the gorilla. Maynard says the Gorilla World Exhibit barriers were safe, but they will further evaluate. He also says the loss of that gorilla is affecting the whole zoo. “We did not take the shooting of Harambe lightly, but that child’s life was in danger and people who question that or are Monday Morning Quarterbacks or second guessers don’t understand that you can’t take a risk with a silverback gorilla.”
Maynard says their silverback gorilla breeding program will continue. No charges are expected to be filed in the incident.
The exhibit is expected to reopen next weekend.
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