Harambe the Gorilla & The Cincinnati Zoo shoot

      A few years back, Shari Baum and I were filming one of our yearly Summer Adventures TV series episodes for Fox19 TV out of Cincinnati. One such episode had us at the Cincinnati Zoo filming above the gorilla enclosure. With our back to the gorillas (Harambe, in particular), a sizeable clump of shrubbery came whizzing past our heads. The strength of his heave was as impressive as it was daunting. The great ape obviously did not like who we were and what we were doing above HIS habitat. The keeper warned us about making any kind of gesture in response... even with 25 feet, a moat and wall between all of us.
      Now, what I have taken from the loss of the great silverback is one of sorrow, but also necessity. I have read the recent article written by a gorilla keeper about the unpredictability of these seemingly gentle giants. And a screaming child in the moat was probably not putting this mighty ape at ease. In my unscientific, but personal opinion, Harambe had to be put down as the quickest and safest way to end that horrible situation. These are not trained circus animals (or animals who have intermingled with humans since birth like Koko the sign language Gorilla)... these are unpredictable creatures of nature who have set up and see themselves controlling their environment... artificial as it may be. Seemingly to some, he may have looked as if he was protecting the child, but to the trained eye (as stated by the experienced gorilla keeper) Harambe could have crushed, bitten or torn the little boy apart in the wink of an eye... and in public view. There was no alternative plan other than to follow the emergency protocol. 
     Though Harambe will be greatly missed by zoo visitors, I truly believe the Cincinnati Zoo followed the right procedure... the correct steps for such a situation... the best one until a better one can be implemented ...for the safety of all creatures involved.

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