On May 28, 2016, a three-year-old boy named Isiah Gregg climbed over a fence and fell into a moat inside the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo. There, he encountered Harambe, a 17-year-old silverback gorilla who weighed 450 pounds and was one of the zoo’s most popular attractions. What happened next sparked a global controversy and debate over animal rights, human responsibility, and zoo safety.
How Did Isiah Gregg Fall Into the Gorilla Enclosure?
According to the Cincinnati Zoo, Isiah Gregg was visiting the zoo with his mother, Michelle Gregg, his father, Deonne Dickerson, and his three siblings. The family was at the Gorilla World exhibit, where visitors can view gorillas from different vantage points. At one point, Isiah slipped away from his mother’s sight and climbed over a three-foot-high metal and wire fence that surrounded the exhibit. He then crawled through four feet of bushes and dropped 15 feet into the moat that separated the gorillas from the visitors.
The zoo officials said that they had never had a breach of the barrier in the 38 years of the exhibit’s existence. They also said that the barrier met the standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which accredits zoos in North America. However, after the incident, they announced plans to increase the fence height by half a foot.
What Did Harambe Do to Isiah Gregg?
As soon as Isiah fell into the moat, Harambe noticed him and approached him. The gorilla grabbed the boy by his leg and dragged him through the water. He then stood over him and appeared to examine him. Some witnesses said that Harambe seemed to be protecting the boy from the screaming crowd, while others said that he was acting aggressively and unpredictably.
The zoo staff tried to lure Harambe away from Isiah with food and other distractions, but he did not respond. They also tried to call out to him using verbal commands, but he ignored them. The zoo’s dangerous animal response team decided that they had no choice but to shoot Harambe with a rifle, fearing that he could harm or kill Isiah at any moment. They said that using a tranquilizer dart would have taken too long to take effect and could have agitated Harambe further.
The whole ordeal lasted about 10 minutes, during which Isiah was conscious and calm. He was rescued by the zoo staff and taken to a hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises. He was released the same day.
What Was the Public Reaction to Harambe’s Death?
The death of Harambe sparked a massive public outcry and debate over who was to blame for the tragedy. Many people criticized Isiah’s parents for not watching him closely enough and allowing him to breach the barrier. Some even called for criminal charges against them for negligence or child endangerment. Others defended them and said that it was an accident that could have happened to anyone.
Many people also condemned the zoo for killing Harambe instead of trying to save him. They argued that Harambe was not a threat to Isiah and that he was only curious or protective of him. They also questioned the zoo’s safety measures and protocols for dealing with such situations. Some even suggested that gorillas should not be kept in captivity at all and that they belong in their natural habitats.
Many people expressed their grief and anger over Harambe’s death on social media, using hashtags such as #JusticeForHarambe, #RIPHarambe, and #HarambeLivesMatter. Some also created memes, songs, artworks, petitions, and fundraisers in honor of Harambe. Some celebrities also joined the conversation, such as Ricky Gervais, J.K. Rowling, Piers Morgan, and Jack Black.
What Was the Legal Outcome of the Incident?
The Cincinnati Police Department launched an investigation into Isiah’s parents to determine whether they were negligent or reckless in allowing him to enter the gorilla enclosure. However, they did not find any evidence of criminal wrongdoing and did not recommend any charges against them.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees animal welfare at zoos, also conducted an investigation into the Cincinnati Zoo. They found that the zoo was in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and did not violate any federal regulations. However, they issued a citation to the zoo for failing to maintain an effective barrier between humans and animals.
The zoo agreed to pay a fine of $10,000 and made several changes to improve its safety standards. These included raising the height of the fence around the gorilla exhibit by six inches, adding surveillance cameras and staff members, installing signs and alarms, and conducting more drills and training.
What Was the Impact of Harambe’s Death on Gorilla Conservation?
Harambe was a western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species that is native to Central Africa. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are only about 100,000 western lowland gorillas left in the wild, and their population is declining due to habitat loss, poaching, disease, and civil unrest.
Harambe was born in captivity at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas in 1999. He was transferred to the Cincinnati Zoo in 2014 as part of a breeding program run by the AZA. He was one of 10 gorillas at the zoo and had not yet fathered any offspring.
The death of Harambe was a significant loss for the gorilla conservation efforts, as he was a genetically valuable individual who could have contributed to the genetic diversity and health of his species. The AZA said that Harambe’s death was “a huge loss for the zoo community and the gorilla population worldwide.”
However, some positive outcomes also emerged from the tragedy. The Cincinnati Zoo received an outpouring of donations and support from the public, which it used to fund its conservation projects and partner organizations that work to protect gorillas in Africa. The zoo also raised awareness and education about the plight of gorillas and the need to conserve them. The zoo said that it hoped that Harambe’s legacy would inspire people to “join us in our mission of saving wildlife and wild places.”
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