Cincinnati Zoo Kills Gorilla to Save 4-Year-Old Boy Who Fell Into Enclosure, Child Expected to Recover

Gorilla grabs child who"s fallen into habitat at Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Grabs Child Whos Fallen int

A close call. A seriously injured 4-year-old boy is expected to recover after he fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday, May 28.

PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars Weve Lost

The unidentified child crawled through a barrier at Gorilla World on Saturday afternoon before falling about 10 to 12 feet into a moat, according to ABC News. He was then picked up and dragged around by a 400-pound, 17-year-old male gorilla named Harambe for about 10 minutes as onlookers screamed for help.

Harambe, a gorilla from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden/Facebook PHOTOS: Celebrity Animal Charities

After determining that the situation was life-threatening, a zoo employee shot and killed the gorilla. According to a statement on the parks website, the security teams quick response saved the childs life. We are all devastated that his tragic accident resulted in the death of a critically-endangered gorilla. This is a huge loss for the Zoo family and the gorilla population worldwide.

The Cincinnati Zoos response team decided against using a tranquilizer dart on the gorilla as it wouldve taken effect too slowly, according to CNN.

PHOTOS: Celebrities and Their Pets

The 4-year-old boy was immediately transported to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, where it was determined that his injuries were non-life-threatening, according tolocal reports.

Harambe, a western lowland gorilla, celebrated his 17th birthday just one day before the incident. The average lifespan of a gorilla in the wild is 35 years, according to National Geographic. The endangered species is mainly herbivorous.

Can"t get enough of Us? Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter packed with the latest celeb news, hot pics and more!

Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/cincinnati-zoo-kills-gorilla-to-save-4-year-old-in-danger-w208193

Continue Reading ..

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Gorilla runs toward child who"s fallen into enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo

4 Year Old Falls into Enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Shot and Killed

Photos taken at the Cincinnati Zoo Saturday show a gorilla"s reaction aftera 4-year-old boy crawled through a railing and fell into a moat in his habitat Saturday.

Harambe, a 400-pound, 17-year-old male lowland gorilla, was inside a cave when the boy got into the Gorilla World enclosure.

VIDEO: Harambe handles boy who"s gotten into enclosure

The boy was inside the enclosure for more than 10 minutes before the gorilla was shot dead and the boy was rescued.

The boy was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The photos below show the moment Harambe first heard the screams from onlookers when the boy fell into the moat.

In the first photo, he pokes his head out of the cave.

Then he runs toward the moat, where the boy fell.

He looks down at the boy.

And then he looks back at the crowd gathered on the other side of the railing.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Gorilla runs toward child who"s fallen into enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo

1 of 5

Harambe 1

In the first photo, Harambe pokes his head out of the cave.

Officials said that Harambe climbed into the moat, grabbed the boy and tossed him around his enclosure until a dangerous animal response team shot and killed him.

Source: http://www.wlwt.com/news/PHOTOS-Gorilla-reacts-to-child-fallen-into-enclosure-at-Cincinnati-Zoo/39774630

Continue Reading ..