Veteran Zoo director defends killing his gorilla Harambe, says he would "still kill Harambe" today - Polidicks

[IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/0F2B/production/_89838830_6ab5c7fd-ff07-4168-b6c1-83de4dfbc4a2.jpg[/IMG] Nearly 200,000 people have signed an online petition protesting against Harambe's killing [IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/363B/production/_89838831_89838826.jpg[/IMG] [URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36414813?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook"]BBC[/URL] [quote=BBC News]The director of a US zoo has defended the decision to shoot a gorilla after a small boy fell into its enclosure. [B]Thane Maynard of Cincinnati Zoo said [U]he would make the same call today[/U] as the gorilla was agitated and was hurting the four-year-old.[/B] Mr Maynard said it was easy to say things should have been done differently after the incident was over and the child was safe, [B]but people making those criticisms "don't understand primate biology... and the danger the child was in[/B]". The gorilla "wasn't trying to eat the child," he said, "but he was disorientated and wanted to get the child to stay there". The screams from the crowd were adding to Harambe's agitation, the zoo director said. [B]US wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin told the BBC that he did not think zoo staff had any alternative[/B] as the gorilla was so powerful - easily six to eight times as powerful as an adult male human. Tranquilising a large animal is not instant, he said. It could take many minutes and require multiple darts.[/quote] Famed conservationist Jeff Corwin (The U.S. version of Steve Irwin) says the zoo did not have any alternative. And because people are going to challenge the Zoo director's credentials, I have posted them below for ease-of-access, where he co-authored a book on preserving endangered species [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/UqXedoF.png[/IMG]

Poor kid, he will grow up being taught by those around him the monkey was worth more than him. So, the academic and gorilla expert decides to kill it, because it concluded the boy was in danger, but some people think somehow he was wrong? Are these the same kind of people who think tigers are some harmless creatures if you make cute sounds and rub its belly?

I mean, in the videos I've seen, there are people screaming at the top of their lungs causing the gorilla to visibly kinda freak out. At that point, shooting it might be the only option. However, I'm fairly pissed that the parents(or parent, whichever) received no punishment for letting their kid climb into a fucking ape enclosure. In the meantime, we've got parents getting punished for letting their kids play in their own yard unattended.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;50429537][IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/0F2B/production/_89838830_6ab5c7fd-ff07-4168-b6c1-83de4dfbc4a2.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Ten to one odds that dude didn't give a flying fuck about "all the others" until everyone on social media started blasting the zoo about this incident.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/0jlXhg1.png[/IMG] I don't think this is how you do memes. Top text says "In loving memory of Harambe"

While it's obviously a shitty situation, I have to wonder if the people criticising the move have actually seen the video.

It's fine to mourn the loss of an endangered gorilla but there was no other option. It's a shitty situation but they did what they had to do.

[QUOTE=Water-Marine;50429567]I mean, in the videos I've seen, there are people screaming at the top of their lungs causing the gorilla to visibly kinda freak out. At that point, shooting it might be the only option. However, I'm fairly pissed that the parents(or parent, whichever) received no punishment for letting their kid climb into a fucking ape enclosure. In the meantime, we've got parents getting punished for letting their kids play in their own yard unattended.[/QUOTE] can you stop being so presumptuous about the parents? everyone keeps saying this as if they just sat back and watched their 4 year old kid freely climb into a zoo enclosure and that theres no other possible explanation for this situation

[QUOTE=rampageturke 2;50429591]can you stop being so presumptuous about the parents? everyone keeps saying this as if they just sat back and watched their 4 year old kid freely climb into a zoo enclosure and that theres no other possible explanation for this situation[/QUOTE] So, it'd be better if they DIDN'T watch their kid?

[QUOTE=Water-Marine;50429598]So, it'd be better if they DIDN'T watch their kid?[/QUOTE] No, what I'm saying is, all it takes is a few seconds glance away at something else (like looking in a bag for example) and everything can go wrong fast. Hardly gross negligence [editline]31st May 2016[/editline] but im sure you with your vastly superior understanding of this situation with all your evidence can tell that the parents are complete assholes and dont deserve their children

[QUOTE=Water-Marine;50429598]So, it'd be better if they DIDN'T watch their kid?[/QUOTE] wow biggest fucking strawman I've ever seen, totally not what they were getting at.

[QUOTE=rampageturke 2;50429591]can you stop being so presumptuous about the parents? everyone keeps saying this as if they just sat back and watched their 4 year old kid freely climb into a zoo enclosure and that theres no other possible explanation for this situation[/QUOTE] I don't think they're being presumptuous. The zoo hadn't had an enclosure breach since 1978 - their enclosure was very secure and even for a small child would take considerable effort to breach. Bystanders stated that it would have likely taken him a decent amount of time to enter. The mother was alone with her son at the zoo, he should have been her primary point of focus at any given time and there's no real argument against that. Nobody is saying she watched him climb in freely, but she did ignore him long enough to do so, and that's a problem.

[URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36416350"]Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead[/URL] [thumb]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/143EC/production/_89842928_5746f94d-1627-42ba-b69b-ac27f27e25d0.jpg[/thumb] [quote]The mother of a boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure at a US zoo has become the victim of online abuse after zookeepers shot the animal dead. The boy's mother, identified on social media as Michelle Gregg, is heard shouting in footage of the incident. She tells her son to remain calm, after he had climbed through a barrier and fallen into the pen at Cincinnati Zoo. A Facebook post, purportedly written by Michelle Gregg, thanked "the right people" for being "in the right place" and said "accidents happen". [/quote] [IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/5D06/production/_89841832_86024312-680d-46c4-947d-3672ca2d64ad.jpg[/IMG] [quote]Ms Gregg later became the focus of a furious online backlash after zoo officials defended the decision to shoot the animal. [URL="https://www.facebook.com/edward.wehrenberg?fref=nf"]Eddie Whrnbrg[/URL] [who the fuck is he?] wrote on Facebook: "...the zoos aren't the problem. It's the idiotic parents." [media]https://twitter.com/blxxm83/status/736944771009282048[/media] [media]https://twitter.com/brittrosenthal/status/736922123843866624[/media] Ms Gregg posted on Facebook after the incident and at about the same time a [URL="https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Harambe/"]Facebook group called Justice for Harambe was set up. [/URL] An online petition signed by more than 300,000 people was also created, calling for her to be held accountable for Harambe's death. Michelle Gregg's Facebook page has since been deleted, after many accused her of being a bad mother. [B]Other social media users with the same name have been dragged into the debate after being mistakenly targeted.[/B] [URL="https://www.facebook.com/michellegregg25/posts/10157076032100691?pnref=story"]This Facebook user[/URL] even changed her profile picture and posted: "There is some pretty foul language in these emails... but here are some I've received today. I have also received tons of emails of people apologising for what others have said to me." [IMG]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/0F54/production/_89842930_0c3f379e-618a-4d23-8d21-f0da7637d1fe.jpg[/IMG] In contrast to more than 100,000 likes on the Justice for Harambe page, a [B]Facebook group in support of Ms Gregg has attracted just over 300 likes[/B].[/quote] [img]http://i.imgur.com/unqMEwx.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/HntGagd.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/kSS1QkR.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Q4BLegg.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/vxSy9c9.png[/img] [IMG]https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13307312_10157076031955691_6674284444728664294_n.jpg?oh=a2cbf0802bf2cc5bd823a0eb467dea74&oe=57E27E6F[/IMG]

When I read that "Protected by God" Man....XXI century, folks, and here we are.....

[QUOTE=Starpluck;50429640][URL="Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead"]Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead[/URL] -pictures snipped- [/QUOTE] I bet they didn't even give a damn about gorillas until this particular one was shot, I bet they don't do anything meaningful for conservation either other than post about it on Twitter and Facebook, if that even. They probably also didn't watch the actual footage or full footage of the incident either if they where harassing this lady. I wonder how many other "Michelle Gregg"s are getting harassment over this.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;50429640]pics[/QUOTE] my god, the patience

[QUOTE=Starpluck;50429640][URL="http://Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead"]Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead[/URL][/QUOTE] The mob mentality turns people into vile beasts. Jesus fuck. By the way the URL is wrong. [url]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36416350[/url] Here.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;50429640][URL="http://Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead"]Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead[/URL] [thumb]https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13307312_10157076031955691_6674284444728664294_n.jpg?oh=a2cbf0802bf2cc5bd823a0eb467dea74&oe=57E27E6F[/thumb] [/QUOTE] See every time I see a case of mistaken identity like this, it reminds me of this "charming" little ditty. [video=youtube;RleE--HDBiU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RleE--HDBiU[/video]

Yeah, that's absolutely ridiculous. I believe the mother made a mistake, but in no way deserves this level of public backlash and bullying. Everyone fucks up. People just enjoy having a hatewagon to jump on, and unfortunately this little slice of shit fell on her.

"stupid bitch i hope you die" "Sorry, but you've got the wrong Michelle." "oh whoops lol [IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG]" These stupid assholes try keep laughing off sending death threats to a woman like it was a joke in the first place.

[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;50429677]When I read that "Protected by God" Man....XXI century, folks, and here we are.....[/QUOTE] I was wondering how many people were going to doubt her intelligence and further exaggerate her inability to parent due to that statement. Not saying I lean that way, but we all know that's how some people will respond.

A bunch of people over here are upset at how this was handled, mainly because of a really prolific event that happened at our zoo involving [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambo]Jambo.[/url]

[QUOTE=FunnyStarRunner;50429767]"stupid bitch i hope you die" "Sorry, but you've got the wrong Michelle." "oh whoops lol [IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG][IMG]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/opinions/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2015/02/Emoji-Smiley-23.png[/IMG]" These stupid assholes try keep laughing off sending death threats to a woman like it was a joke in the first place.[/QUOTE] This is the problem with the internet - people feel like they can say things they wouldn't dream of saying to a person's face. Or even worse, after doing so enough times, it enables this unrealistic sense of righteousness that brings them to begin doing it irl.

What the hell is wrong with those people? Just let the gorilla slaughter a child, yea that is fine. Same with the comments about "Oh he had to die because the parents are bad." Do we just let kids die every time parents neglect their job? It is sad that the gorilla died but do those people really care more about a gorilla than a human life? Imagine the kid died and the Gorialla lived, same people would probably call for the Gorilla to be put down.

I'm still confused as to why people are signing a petition protesting the death of the Gorilla. It's not like some kind of reversible thing that will happen if they reach enough signatures...

[QUOTE=MissZoey;50429814]I'm still confused as to why people are signing a petition protesting the death of the Gorilla. It's not like some kind of reversible thing that will happen if they reach enough signatures...[/QUOTE] They want the parents to be held accountable and child protective services to launch an investigation into their living environment, and seize the children if needed. I believe they are also calling on the family to compensate the zoo for the loss. [editline]31st May 2016[/editline] The police are currently examining charges, but noted that they nor the prosecutor's office have filed any.

[QUOTE=Mitsuma;50429775]What the hell is wrong with those people? Just let the gorilla slaughter a child, yea that is fine. Same with the comments about "Oh he had to die because the parents are bad." Do we just let kids die every time parents neglect their job? It is sad that the gorilla died but do those people really care more about a gorilla than a human life? Imagine the kid died and the Gorialla lived, same people would probably call for the Gorilla to be put down.[/QUOTE] Yea those vocal people almost makes me feel bad that I value a human life more than the life of an animal.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;50429848]Yea those vocal people almost makes me feel bad that I value a human life more than the life of an animal.[/QUOTE] We have our very own on Facepunch [QUOTE=Headhumpy;50416189]There are 7 billion humans on Earth, compared to roughly 200,000 Western gorillas (the most populous species of gorilla). In other words, you'd have to value a human life as being roughly 35,000 times that of a gorilla's life in order to say that it was worth killing the gorilla to save the boy.[/QUOTE]

So do these people think it would have been better for their beautiful animal to rip this kid to shreds(or whatever it would be) and have that go viral instead?

[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;50429677]When I read that "Protected by God" Man....XXI century, folks, and here we are.....[/QUOTE] come on, seriously? There's pretty much no difference between an average human (other than living conditions and so on) in 2016 CE and an average human in 16 CE. It's stupid to act like religion should be outdated because of it being a certain year/century. The really stupid thing i've heard is that people are calling this an example of white privilege even though the child was black.