As of this writing there are more than 250,000 signatures on a petition to have the Mom whose three-year-old fell into a gorilla enclosure, charged with child neglect. Like parents everywhere I watched the footage of this little one being dragged through the water by the gorilla as his Mother cried out, “Oh God, please protect him.” (Read this open letter to her here.)
A quarter of a million people have come together to take action against her, a Mom who must have felt a heart-stopping fear the likes of which most of us will thankfully never know. Despite witnesses making statements that show she was not to blame (source), mob mentality fueled by social media and misinformation has taken over.
While many are asserting the gorilla shouldn’t have been shot I feel safe in saying that 100% of them have never had their 40 pound child being tossed around by a 400 pound animal.
Having said all that, I have to tell you that I’ve found myself wondering where all this outrage on behalf of gorillas has been prior to this incident.
What if these same people took a breath and focused their attention on the real issue?
The extinction of Silverback gorillas.
Rather than screaming at a Mom who lost track of her child, (something that has happened to as many good parents as bad), I suggest they take a minute to learn about what humans as a whole have done to gorillas and what they personally can do to make a difference.
How many of these 250,000 know that there are only about 700 Silverbacks (aka Mountain gorillas) left in existence today? (source) More importantly, were they aware of this horrifying information BEFORE this gorilla was sacrificed to save a child?
Do they understand that these stunning animals are endangered in large part because humans are destroying their natural habitats? That’s not all. Humans poach gorillas for their body parts and even to turn them into something called bush meat. (source)
And what about zoos and their affect on gorillas? Why aren’t we collectively outraged that gorillas are captive at all? Can’t we make the case that it was in fact captivity that killed this gorilla? That’s what PETA has to say about the incident. (source)
Did you know that a great many gorillas in captivity actually have to take heart medication because they frequently suffer from cardiac disease, while many can be emotionally distressed – even crying at times? (source)
My point is this:
You SHOULD be angry that a gorilla was shot, but not at the Mother of a little boy and not at the zookeeper who had to pull the trigger.
You should be angry that we’re losing these gorillas because WE as humans are causing their extinction. You should be angry about how we treat MOST animals.
Rather than type angry comments online or sign a petition to point a finger at a Mom who was likely doing her best (when did we become a lynch mob who no longer believes Americans are innocent until proven guilty?), I would be far more impressed by 250,000 people donating any amount of money toward preserving Silverback gorillas in the wild.
My suggestion is that you honor the gorilla named Harambe by making a donation to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. Your gift will directly support gorilla monitoring, life-saving medical interventions, and health studies to save the critically endangered gorillas.
That’s something that will do infinitely more good than spouting hate on the internet.
If you feel strongly about how we treat animals then do something meaningful and do it without hate.
Sher Bailey is a writer in the Midwest who believes the power of humor, Mod Podge, and grandkids can fix most problems in life. You can find her at SherBailey.com.
Verna says
Nicely said we need more people like you in our world. Thank you for being an understanding human being.
Amanda The Adventurer says
I understand that the incident involving a child falling into a gorilla enclosure sparked a lot of controversy and strong reactions from the public.
jumping shell says
nice
RED says
I agree with the sentiment. However, a silver back is the term used for the head make in a group of gorillas wether mountain or lowland. Not all gorillas are silver backs just the nature males. Harambe was not a mountain gorilla, but a lowland and there are estimated 150000 of them in the wild.
As a Christian, I believe we are to have dominion over this earth and all its inhabitants. To me this means taking care of the environment and ensuring the survival of threatened species. Not to raise them to equal standing as humans, but they were placed here for a purpose. And they desearve to be protected.
Excellent article, just need to change a few facts and it is a slam sunk.
indigo al says
so only Christians are to have dominion over the earth? says who? the Bible was written by Christians…and interpreted by those that can read it. humans have been on this earth far shorter time than those animals we have evolved from, so who gets to say who has dominion over the earth?
A.J. says
Indigo….Red meant that she believes that Humankind has dominion over all of nature/creation…not just humans.. You attack without understanding. As a believer in the judeo-christian viewpoint….she has stated her belief quite eloquently I think.
A.J. says
I meant humans have dominion …not just Christians…..sorry bout that.
Katie says
I’m completely understanding about the whole situation. Yes, there was danger to the child, the gorilla had to be shot. The mother lost track. Of her child, happens to all of us for a few terrifying seconds.
Here’s my question: when she realized that her child was in the pit with a gorilla, why didn’t she jump in herself? That would be my very first reaction. If I see my kid rolling down the hill toward the gorillas, you better be sure that I’m trying to beat him down the hill. If it took time for the mom to realize that the kid was missing-that’s neglect. By definition. K
Stacy says
What about her other child? Say she did go in after the older one, she still would have hate spewed at her for being “neglectful” of her other child. I just saw a picture of the actual enclosure, and the barrier is nothing more than a small fence, bushes and a 15 foot dtop, and eye witnesses say it happened in mere seconds. Not everyone reacts the same to stress (realizing your child is in the enclosure) and its easy to say “I would’ve done this” when you can’t know for sure unless you’re in that situation.
Eve says
The Cincinnati Zoo’s barrier for the gorilla exhibit had not been breached in 38 years, so it had served quite well in letting people know not to climb or crawl in there. They have already addressed the recent incident and added a fence in front of the enclosure. The mom admitted she was distracted with taking photos after her 4-year old son announced he wanted to go into the water to play with the gorillas. Seems like a great time to forego the Kodak moment and watch all 4 of your kids even closer.
A.J. says
It would be useless for me to jump in to save a drowning child as I cannot swim myself.
Eve says
First of all, zoos do great work for conservancy and education of all endangered animals. I know about this from not only researching, but a former student is a zookeeper and has shared info personally. Yes, zoos have animals on display for the public to visit and see, but so much more goes on behind the scenes. Most animals in captivity outlive their relatives in the the wild due to careful and constant care. One thing most people don’t realize is that it is and had been illegal for years to remove any animal from the wild to place in a zoo. Most zoos belong to a cooperative that “trades” or loans animals to other zoos for breeding purposes to keep a species going, especially when endangered in the wild.
Secondly, there was an eyewitness interviewed locally—we’re just an hour from Cincinnati—and she happened to catch a glimpse of the child as he crawled through the barriers for the gorilla enclosure. She said she reached out to grab him, but she watched him JUMP—not fall—into the moat. This 4-year old child was heard announcing he wanted to go into the water and play with the gorillas. His mom simply told him he could not. This was not simply a case of a child wandering away from his mom—he wanted to go into the enclosure! The mom has even admitted that after he announced this, she was distracted by taking photos—this was on the news. Seems that after his announcement, the mom would have put a close hold on the boy out of fear and concern. A child does not become impulsive with one zoo visit; he most likely has a history.
Finally, thank you so much for encouraging people to donate to causes that help the endangered Western Lowland Gorillas. People may not think about or realize the stress placed on the DART group who had to shoot Harambe. This could not have been easy on any of them. My former student reassured me of this herself. She works with the animals in the Heart of Africa exhibit at another Ohio zoo and knows firsthand about what goes into a zookeeper’s job. Yes, some people are being very vocal about the loss of Harambe and asking that the mom be held responsible for his death. Just like those who are standing up for the mom and child are deserving of respect, so are those fighting for the animal’s rights. Those varied opinions and causes are what make our world go around. There truly is no one correct opinion here—to each their own. Respect is important here and attempting to understand each others reasons is vital. I totally understand why the zoo’s DART group did what they did; however, I still mourn for Harambe. I am very glad the boy is all right; but he needs to be helped to understand what his impulsive actions caused. I am very sorry that the mom feels attacked by the public; hopefully, she will think about her choice to ignore a child’s declaration to become distracted taking photos. Until anyone had actually walked in any of these people’s shoes, they cannot say how they would have handled all of this.
Kindra says
You worked at a zoo. I’m curious to how a 4 year old child was able to get into the enclosure. Are most open enclosures able to get into by a toddler? I have a 3 year old I would like to take to a zoo very soon (we have none in our state so we’ll have to take a vacation to do so) but I’m not wanting to if zoo enclosures are like this. Thanks for you help 🙂
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Zeeshan Agro says
I appreciate your passionate concern for the welfare of gorillas and your call to address the broader issue of their endangerment. It’s essential to channel our energy into meaningful action rather than engaging in online hostility. The fact that over 250,000 people have come together to take action demonstrates a collective desire to make a positive impact.
I encourage everyone to educate themselves about the critical status of Silverback gorillas and the factors contributing to their decline. By supporting organizations like the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, we can directly contribute to the preservation of these magnificent creatures. Donating and advocating for gorilla conservation efforts will have a far-reaching impact and help address the root causes of their endangerment. Let’s work together to protect these animals and promote a more compassionate approach toward all living beings.
Techinfluencer says
Thank you for sharing this perspective and highlighting the importance of focusing on the broader issue of gorilla conservation. It’s essential for us to educate ourselves about the challenges faced by these incredible creatures and take action to protect their habitats. Let’s channel our energy into raising awareness and making a positive impact on the preservation of Silverback gorillas.
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Yallashootro says
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the recent incident at the gorilla enclosure and the broader issue of gorilla conservation. It’s disheartening to see how misinformation and mob mentality can overshadow the real problem.
You’re absolutely right; the focus should be on the conservation of Silverback gorillas and their endangered status. Rather than directing anger towards the mother or the zookeeper, let’s channel our emotions towards understanding the threats these magnificent animals face due to habitat destruction, poaching, and captivity.
wahakoh wahakoh says
Really poor gorillas, they need to be protected!
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Thank you for sharing your perspective on the recent incident at the gorilla enclosure. It’s indeed crucial to channel our collective concern for gorillas into meaningful actions that address the broader issues they face, such as habitat destruction and poaching.
Your suggestion to support the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is a commendable one. It’s essential to direct our energy towards conservation efforts that can make a real impact. I appreciate your call for constructive action rather than negative reactions.
Let’s focus on making a positive difference for these incredible creatures.
Best regards,
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