At the Cincinnati zoo shot and killed a 17-year-old gorilla

At the Cincinnati zoo in Ohio in the Eastern United States to the employees of the zoo had to be shot 17-year-old gorilla to rescue 3-year-old boy who climbed over fence and fell in the cage to the animal.

The boy fell into the moat. The gorilla grabbed his leg and pulled out of the water. It looked as though the animal had saved the child, but the zoo staff decided to use guns instead of tranquilizers to not anger the gorilla.

This act has caused a wide response of the public and animal advocates. Many have accused the boy's mother, who was not looking for movements of your child. Some of them even began to insist on the involvement of the mother to criminal liability. Others have criticized the zoo and urged the employees to answer, saying that to kill the gorilla was not necessarily. The demonstrators gathered outside the zoo on Sunday, calling for a boycott.

The boy was released unharmed from hospital on Saturday. The boy climbed over the barrier and fell 15 feet into a shallow ditch, where lived a gorilla named Harambe, said zoo Director Thane Maynard. The crowd began to shout, attracting the attention of Harambe to the boy.

"The safety of our visitors and our animals is our priority No. 1," said Maynard. "The barrier protected the visitors for 38 years. However, we will study this case, we work towards continuous improvement to ensure the safety of our visitors and animals."

People for the ethical treatment of animals, the tragic episode is the latest proof that "captivity is not acceptable for gorillas or other primates." Western lowland gorillas are endangered in the wild, fewer than 175 thousand individuals. Another 765 gorillas live in zoos around the world.

sections: Society, World News, Accidents