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Vigil held for gorilla killed after boy entered Cincinnati Zoo enclosure Vigil held for gorilla killed after boy entered Cincinnati Zoo enclosure
(35 minutes later)
Animal lovers and activists on Monday formed a Memorial Day vigil at Cincinnati Zoo, near the site where a gorilla was shot dead after a four-year-old boy entered its enclosure and was grabbed by the animal. Animal lovers and activists formed a Memorial Day vigil at Cincinnati Zoo, near the site where a gorilla was shot dead after a four-year-old boy entered its enclosure and was grabbed by the animal.
Flowers and notes had been left in tribute since the incident on Saturday, but by Monday people began to gather. Flowers and notes had been left in tribute since the incident on Saturday. By Monday people had begun to gather. The family of the boy, who had not been named, were said to be thankful he survived the encounter and aware of criticism sweeping across social media.
The family of the boy, who has not been named, were said to be thankful he survived the encounter and aware of criticism sweeping across social media. The mother’s name emerged on the internet on Monday morning, as Michelle Gregg of Cincinnati,, as a Facebook post written by her was quoted online. The post was subsequently deleted but family spokesperson Gail Myers confirmed to the Guardian it was genuine.
Myers said Gregg did not want to release any more information. In part, the deleted Facebook post said: “God protected my child until the authorities were able to get to him. My son is safe and was able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes … no broken bones or internal injuries …
“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.”
One of those attending the vigil on Monday said he was not there to point fingers, but to pay tribute to the gorilla. Anthony Seta of Cincinnati told the Associated Press the death of the 17-year-old, 400lb adult male silverback lowland gorilla, an endangered species, was “a senseless tragedy”.One of those attending the vigil on Monday said he was not there to point fingers, but to pay tribute to the gorilla. Anthony Seta of Cincinnati told the Associated Press the death of the 17-year-old, 400lb adult male silverback lowland gorilla, an endangered species, was “a senseless tragedy”.
The gorilla, named Harambe, was born in captivity in the US and had passed his 17th birthday the day before the incident.The gorilla, named Harambe, was born in captivity in the US and had passed his 17th birthday the day before the incident.
“People can shout at the parents and people can shout at the zoo. The fact is that a gorilla that just celebrated his birthday has been killed,” said Seta.“People can shout at the parents and people can shout at the zoo. The fact is that a gorilla that just celebrated his birthday has been killed,” said Seta.
Commenters flocked to a Facebook page entitled Justice for Harambe. Online, commenters flocked to a Facebook page entitled Justice for Harambe.
“I was just trying to make a tribute and it’s really taken off from there,” Kate Villanueva of Erlanger, Kentucky, told the AP of the page she created. “I was just trying to make a tribute and it’s really taken off from there,” Kate Villanueva of Erlanger, Kentucky, told the AP of the page she created. “I do think there’s a degree of responsibility they have to be held to. You have to be watching your children at all times.”
Referring to the family of the boy, she added: “I do think there’s a degree of responsibility they have to be held to. You have to be watching your children at all times.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) released a statement from its primatologist, Julia Gallucci, saying the zoo should have had better barriers between humans and gorillas.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) released a statement from its primatologist, Julia Gallucci, saying the zoo should have had better barriers between humans and gorillas.
“This tragedy is exactly why Peta urges families to stay away from any facility that displays animals as sideshows for humans to gawk at,” the statement said.“This tragedy is exactly why Peta urges families to stay away from any facility that displays animals as sideshows for humans to gawk at,” the statement said.
Earlier on Monday Gail Myers, a spokesperson for the family, told the Guardian “they are just really thankful … thankful that he is safe”. Earlier on Monday, Myers told the Guardian “they are just really thankful … thankful that he is safe”.
The family has not yet been identified and has issued no formal statements since a message on Sunday thanking zoo staff and acknowledging the difficult decision they made in having to shoot the animal. The family has issued no formal statements since a message on Sunday thanking zoo staff and acknowledging the difficult decision they made.
“They are doing OK,” Myers said.“They are doing OK,” Myers said.
Related: Cincinnati zoo visitors leave flowers for gorilla fatally shot after grabbing boyRelated: Cincinnati zoo visitors leave flowers for gorilla fatally shot after grabbing boy
It is not clear how many relatives of the boy, other than his mother, visited the zoo on Saturday. Just before 4pm, the boy reportedly climbed through the barrier around the gorilla enclosure, then fell 12ft into the moat. Witnesses recounted overhearing the boy telling his mother that he wanted to get into the moat, and being told he could not. It is not clear how many relatives of the boy, other than his mother, visited the zoo. Just before 4pm, the boy reportedly climbed through the barrier around the gorilla enclosure, then fell 12ft into the moat. Witnesses recounted overhearing the boy telling his mother he wanted to get into the moat, and being told he could not.
It was the first such breach since Gorilla World was created in 1978, according to the zoo. According to the zoo, it was the first such breach since Gorilla World was created in 1978.
Two female gorillas retreated when staff called to them, but Harambe did not respond and took an interest in the boy. Two female gorillas retreated when staff called to them, but video taken by bystanders showed Harambe dragging the boy through the water, the child sobbing and screaming. The gorilla then stopped and, crouching on all fours, calmly started nudging and touching the boy.
Video taken by bystanders and posted on Twitter and Facebook showed Harambe dragging the boy through the water, the child sobbing and screaming. The gorilla can be seen swiftly dragging the boy several dozen feet across the moat, by his leg. The animal then stops and, crouching on all fours, calmly starts nudging and touching the boy. Onlookers could be heard. One called out: “Mommy loves you.” Possibly another voice said: “I’m right here.” The boy could be heard sobbing, then squealing in terror as the gorilla took hold of his hand.
Onlookers can be heard. One calls out: “Mommy loves you.” Possibly another voice says: “I’m right here.” The boy can be heard sobbing, then squealing in terror as the gorilla takes hold of his hand. The boy was sitting in the shallow moat looking up at the gorilla, which appeared outwardly calm as it touched the boy’s shoulder and chest. A voice in the crowd could then be heard trying to reassure people that the gorilla was just “playing with him”. Another called: “Be calm.”
The boy is sitting in the shallow moat looking up at the gorilla, which appears outwardly calm as it touches the boy’s shoulder and chest. A voice in the crowd can then be heard trying to reassure people that the gorilla is just “playing with him”. An onlooker calls: “Be calm.” But in the next clip, the gorilla stood up and appeared to be trying to grasp the boy by the back of his shorts. He then suddenly tipped him over, grabbed his arm and sprinted across the moat, dragging the boy at his side. They then disappeared from the shot, blocked from view by foliage.
But in the next clip, the gorilla stands up and appears to be trying to grasp the boy by the back of his shorts. He then suddenly tips him over, grabs his arm and sprints across the moat, dragging the boy at his side. They then disappear from the shot, blocked from view by foliage.
Zoo staff said they decided the boy could be in imminent danger and chose to shoot Harambe because tranquilizer darts would take too long to work and could have agitated the gorilla.Zoo staff said they decided the boy could be in imminent danger and chose to shoot Harambe because tranquilizer darts would take too long to work and could have agitated the gorilla.
Firefighters then rushed in and took the boy from the ape’s arms. The Gorilla World exhibit was closed. The four-year-old was taken to Cincinnati hospital medical center, and released on Saturday night. Firefighters then rushed in and took the boy from the ape’s arms. The Gorilla World exhibit was closed. The four-year-old was taken to Cincinnati hospital medical center, and released on Saturday night. In their statement on Sunday, the boy’s family acknowledged the dilemma faced by zoo staff.
In their statement on Sunday, the boy’s family acknowledged the dilemma faced by zoo staff.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff,” the statement read. “We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla.”“We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff,” the statement read. “We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla.”
By Sunday a statue of a gorilla outside the Gorilla World exhibit had become a memorial, with animal lovers leaving flowers and messages.By Sunday a statue of a gorilla outside the Gorilla World exhibit had become a memorial, with animal lovers leaving flowers and messages.
Harambe was reportedly born in captivity in Texas before being moved to Cincinnati last year.Harambe was reportedly born in captivity in Texas before being moved to Cincinnati last year.
Jerry Stones, a zookeeper who raised Harambe at the Gladys Porter zoo in Brownsville, Texas, reportedly spent the day in tears. But he refused to condemn staff for shooting the gorilla.Jerry Stones, a zookeeper who raised Harambe at the Gladys Porter zoo in Brownsville, Texas, reportedly spent the day in tears. But he refused to condemn staff for shooting the gorilla.
According to a report in the New York Daily News, Stones said the animals are usually “gentle giants”.According to a report in the New York Daily News, Stones said the animals are usually “gentle giants”.