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Post by just PEAchy on May 30, 2016 14:36:11 GMT
I think it is such a sad situation and I do blame the parent. A friend of mine lives in Cincinnati and she posted an eyewitness account of what happened by an acquaintance of hers. The mother stated she was taking a picture when the little boy got away, so, not only was she trying to supervise 6 kids, she was also taking photos. She was in way over her head and had too many distractions to properly watch out for the kids.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:53:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 14:39:01 GMT
I am completely in agreement. You wrote what I have been thinking. All the perfect parents will feel differently. Also, I support conservancy, but spectacle is different. Humans are some of the most heartless animals on the planet, and I wouldn't want to be on display for them and at their mercy. You don't have to be a perfect parent to understand your child's nature and act accordingly.
My youngest one was a runner. If we couldn't properly supervise him in situations, we didn't go. That's not perfection, that's just baseline parenting.
Me too. But there were also times when one of my kids had a hissy fit or did something ridiculous and, while I was attending to that, another one did something unexpected. Life happens, sometimes unexpectedly. I just don't think rushing to judgment is ever a good idea, especially when none of us know all the facts.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama

Posts: 6,846
Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on May 30, 2016 14:57:31 GMT
The parents should be billed for the cost of a new animal and be investigated by child services. The parents are at fault here and totally responsible.
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Post by pjaye on May 30, 2016 14:58:38 GMT
You don't have to be a perfect parent to understand your child's nature and act accordingly. Exactly. Around the world, probably millions of children visit zoos every single day. If it was *that* easy to get into an enclosure or if every "strong willed" child was so easily able to get away from parents then we should be seeing scenarios like this on a regular basis at least once or twice a day. But no we see it a handful of times each year, so if all of those other parents can visit the zoo and manage not to get their child killed in an animal enclosure, then the ones who almost do must have done something significantly wrong.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on May 30, 2016 15:29:36 GMT
You don't have to be a perfect parent to understand your child's nature and act accordingly. Exactly. Around the world, probably millions of children visit zoos every single day. If it was *that* easy to get into an enclosure or if every "strong willed" child was so easily able to get away from parents then we should be seeing scenarios like this on a regular basis at least once or twice a day. But no we see it a handful of times each year, so if all of those other parents can visit the zoo and manage not to get their child killed in an animal enclosure, then the ones who almost do must have done something significantly wrong. Exactly. This has nothing to do with being a perfect parent. It has everything to do with not being stupid and bringing more children than you can handle. If a kid is a handful, then there needs to be a 1:1 ratio for that child... not a 1:6 ratio. Which in any case is stupid and asking for trouble.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:53:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 17:31:22 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if the parents sue the zoo. They need to publish their names. The zoo should sue the parents. I can not imagine being able to even put a price tag on an endangered creature. They should also be held to task for the terrible stress they put on their poor child.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama

Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on May 30, 2016 17:42:55 GMT
No! The gun was a last resort! And, unfortunately, Harambe was not retreating, don't you think that his keepers loved him and did everything they could to avoid the shooting ?! If not, you have very little understanding of the work that keepers do. They don't just throw in food and clean up poop. They form a real connection with the animals in their care as evidenced by many reports of the reunions of animal and keeper after the keeper or the animal has had to move away Exactly, they do have a connection and that makes it all the more difficult to understand why they took the action they did. I've read and heard a report made by a spokesperson from the zoo and not once did he suggest that Harambe was dangerous/couldn't be trusted. What he did say was that the gorilla did not appear to be attacking the child, but he said the animal was “extremely strong” and in an agitated situation. The agitated situation was created by the public! They made no attempt to clear the viewing enclosure of the hysterical public yet they had 17 minutes to usher them away. Doing so would have calmed the environment surrounding the enclosure. I admit that he was at one time dragging him through the water ( he fell into the moat according to a bystander report) but he also stood him up in one of the videos shown.......it's not beyond the possibility that he was actually trying to protect him and get him out of the water but sadly he wasn't given the time. [ From what I heard , they did clear the area ... That is why the video circulating is so short. Visitors did not witness the shooting. Emergency recall DID work on the two females . Only Harambe did not respond . A gorilla does not have to attack a human in order to harm a human . We are so much more fragile than they are. They can crack a coconut just by squeezing it on their hand. We have no idea how he behaved as the situation progressed . As a docent, I have been educated in the emergency procedures at my zoo. I have witnessed the drills . I know the people who have guns. I know many of the keepers personally and have heard most all of them speak . These are people who do not work for big bucks, but for the love of their charges . These keepers and the emergency response team will be forever haunted by these events. And keepers across the country are praying that it never happens in their zoos. I am devastated by this loss. And to have happened just a day after they were celebrating his birthday!! But I will not second guess those that had to make this decision.iiu
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Post by bostonmama on May 30, 2016 18:00:56 GMT
People ArticleJust read this - people calling her out on Facebook. And in this longer video, it does appear the gorilla helped him stand and pulled up the kid's pants for him!
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:53:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 18:13:29 GMT
People ArticleJust read this - people calling her out on Facebook. And in this longer video, it does appear the gorilla helped him stand and pulled up the kid's pants for him! Just read the mother's statement. I didn't think my opinion of her could be lower. I was wrong.
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Post by bostonmama on May 30, 2016 18:19:39 GMT
And then there's this: Picture of kidsAnd someone on an Anti-Michelle Gregg page posted she has been arrested and had her kids removed from her twice. Oh, and she works at a daycare.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on May 30, 2016 18:21:55 GMT
People ArticleJust read this - people calling her out on Facebook. And in this longer video, it does appear the gorilla helped him stand and pulled up the kid's pants for him! Just read the mother's statement. I didn't think my opinion of her could be lower. I was wrong. Agreed. She's completely clueless... which is probably one of the reasons why this whole thing happened.
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Post by M~ on May 30, 2016 19:33:35 GMT
I would not have made the choice to kill that gorgeous animal.
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Post by CarolT on May 30, 2016 20:08:56 GMT
My daughter worked in the education department of a large AZA accredited animal park. I talked with her about this and her take is that, and I quote "people are stupid. The minute they enter a zoo or park, they think everything must be completely safe and there is no way they or their kids can get hurt. I've had to ask more parents than I can count to not dangle their toddler over the wall of an enclosure, and not to sit their children on the wall of an enclosure. Even if there weren't dangerous animals inside, a 15 foot drop would do a lot of damage to a small child. It's absolutely 100% the parent's fault that an innocent, genetically valuable, animal is dead. Just like the baby bison in Yellowstone."
She went on to say that they have protocols for just about every possible scenario that would put animals or humans at risk and destroying an animal is the absolute last resort.
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Post by anxiousmom on May 30, 2016 20:24:25 GMT
My daughter worked in the education department of a large AZA accredited animal park. I talked with her about this and her take is that, and I quote "people are stupid. The minute they enter a zoo or park, they think everything must be completely safe and there is no way they or their kids can get hurt. I've had to ask more parents than I can count to not dangle their toddler over the wall of an enclosure, and not to sit their children on the wall of an enclosure. Even if there weren't dangerous animals inside, a 15 foot drop would do a lot of damage to a small child. It's absolutely 100% the parent's fault that an innocent, genetically valuable, animal is dead. Just like the baby bison in Yellowstone." She went on to say that they have protocols for just about every possible scenario that would put animals or humans at risk and destroying an animal is the absolute last resort. When I read the baby bison story my mouth literally dropped open. I can't even imagine that kind of...ignorance.
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zella
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,884
Jul 7, 2014 19:36:30 GMT
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Post by zella on May 30, 2016 21:01:51 GMT
I wouldn't be quick to criticize the caregiver/parent. My older daughter was a runner/hider/explorer, and while I don't think she'd have gone into a zoo enclosure, it's not totally out of the question. She's now mom to a 2 year old who is the same. Payback. But seriously, young children do crazy things, and no parent or caregiver can prevent bad things from happening 100% of the time.
The video of the gorilla dragging the little boy through the water was terrifying; I'm surprised he survived the ordeal.
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Post by birukitty on May 30, 2016 21:06:39 GMT
People ArticleJust read this - people calling her out on Facebook. And in this longer video, it does appear the gorilla helped him stand and pulled up the kid's pants for him! Just read the mother's statement. I didn't think my opinion of her could be lower. I was wrong. Within that People article is a petition called "Justice for Harambe" that calls for the mother to be investigated and charge for not protecting her child and causing this tragedy to occur. I'm sorry I don't know how to do links. I know I need to learn. DH has shown me more than once but my damaged brain (ECT treatments) can't remember computer stuff at all for some reason. Anyway, I wanted everyone to know that this petition exists if you are interested in signing it. Especially since as BostonMama posted she's been arrested and had her children removed from her twice. At this point my concern is for her children. While my heart literally bleeds for the death of this beautiful gorilla being the animal lover that I am, learning this new news about her brings my concerns about her children forefront. Those poor kids. I don't want kids taken from their mother prematurely, but when it is warranted I certainly this it is the best thing to do. For the safety of the kids. Is there a father in the picture? The article I read today mentioned "parents" as though both mother and father were at the zoo. Debbie in MD.
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Post by freecharlie on May 30, 2016 21:12:55 GMT
I wouldn't be quick to criticize the caregiver/parent. My older daughter was a runner/hider/explorer, and while I don't think she'd have gone into a zoo enclosure, it's not totally out of the question. She's now mom to a 2 year old who is the same. Payback. But seriously, young children do crazy things, and no parent or caregiver can prevent bad things from happening 100% of the time. The video of the gorilla dragging the little boy through the water was terrifying; I'm surprised he survived the ordeal. I know some kids are harder than othera, but I will absolutely be quick to judge. If you know your kid is that quick and squirrely and apparently has not been taught where he should and should not go, then the onus is on you to be prepared for the kid to do something. If you can't do that, then you need to have a backup person helping you or wait for a different time to go. They have the backpack with a tail tbe parent can hold on to, a you must be touching mommy at all times rule, a 2 foot rule...whatever. Facts are, this mother bot being able to watch and/or control her kid cost an animal it's life, but she got off super lucky. If could have cost her child his life as well.
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama

Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 30, 2016 21:13:17 GMT
This thread made me remember this:
When my disappearing-act daughter was two years-old, I also had a newborn to attend to. I bought one of those toddler leashes. It velcroed around my daughter's wrist. I would hold the other end or slip it around the stroller handle when we went to someplace like...oh...the zoo. Worked like a charm.
The verbal criticism and insults I received from total stramgers was astonishing. In a nutshell, I was a monster who treated her child like an animal. And I didn't deserve to be a mother.
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Post by freecharlie on May 30, 2016 21:16:12 GMT
This thread made me remember this: When my disappearing-act daughter was two years-old, I also had a newborn to attend to. I bought one of those toddler leashes. It velcroed around my daughter's wrist. I would hold the other end or slip it around the stroller handle when we went to someplace like...oh...the zoo. Worked like a charm. The verbal criticism and insults I received from total stramgers was astonishing. In a nutshell, I was a monster who treated her child like an animal. And I didn't deserve to be a mother. please tell me you told them off?
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,963
Location: North Idaho
Jul 1, 2014 23:30:44 GMT
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Post by Nink on May 30, 2016 21:22:32 GMT
I wouldn't be quick to criticize the caregiver/parent. My older daughter was a runner/hider/explorer, and while I don't think she'd have gone into a zoo enclosure, it's not totally out of the question. She's now mom to a 2 year old who is the same. Payback. But seriously, young children do crazy things, and no parent or caregiver can prevent bad things from happening 100% of the time. The video of the gorilla dragging the little boy through the water was terrifying; I'm surprised he survived the ordeal. From some of the articles I read, witnesses state that the boy kept telling his mom he was going to go in and swim with the gorilla. All she did was say "no". He then proceeded to squirm his way through three different barriers to get to it. This isn't an "I turned my head away for a second" circumstance. This was shitty parenting.
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama

Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 30, 2016 21:28:56 GMT
please tell me you told them off? Heh. Nope, I was mostly shocked into silence. (Pretty unusual for me.) But one man, who accused me of treating my child like a dog, got this back: "No, my dog has a much longer leash." And no, I didn't even have a dog.
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Post by rebelyelle on May 30, 2016 21:31:05 GMT
This thread made me remember this: When my disappearing-act daughter was two years-old, I also had a newborn to attend to. I bought one of those toddler leashes. It velcroed around my daughter's wrist. I would hold the other end or slip it around the stroller handle when we went to someplace like...oh...the zoo. Worked like a charm. The verbal criticism and insults I received from total stramgers was astonishing. In a nutshell, I was a monster who treated her child like an animal. And I didn't deserve to be a mother. Those kid leashes work great until you have a kid who learns to get out of it for the first time. In public. At the zoo. Like my kid did. I'm sitting on the bench of not judging until we know all of the facts. And right now, NOBODY knows all of the facts. How many kids were there? How many adults supervising? How easy/hard was it to get into the enclosure? No one knows if it was negligence or just an "oh shit" moment that every single parent I've ever known has had with their kids. Every parent has make this some kind of mistake that could have ended in an absolute tragedy. Most of us just get lucky that it doesn't, and even fewer are so unlucky as to have their mistake be presented to the public for scrutiny. This mother may have been negligent, or she may have just been human. Given the lessons I've had to learn with my own kid, I'm not judging yet.
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Post by gar on May 30, 2016 21:32:40 GMT
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Post by spitfiregirl on May 30, 2016 21:34:54 GMT
if that was my child I would want the gorilla killed. I saw how the boy was being dragged. Then.... an investigation into the zoo fencing and parents neglect. I admit, I could not watch the whole video of the gorilla. The way it was dragging that boy was way to scare and unpredictable.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:53:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2016 21:42:47 GMT
This thread made me remember this: When my disappearing-act daughter was two years-old, I also had a newborn to attend to. I bought one of those toddler leashes. It velcroed around my daughter's wrist. I would hold the other end or slip it around the stroller handle when we went to someplace like...oh...the zoo. Worked like a charm. The verbal criticism and insults I received from total stramgers was astonishing. In a nutshell, I was a monster who treated her child like an animal. And I didn't deserve to be a mother. I had that same experience At that age, I still cared what other people thought of me, and it hurt.
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Post by bostonmama on May 30, 2016 21:56:00 GMT
This thread made me remember this: When my disappearing-act daughter was two years-old, I also had a newborn to attend to. I bought one of those toddler leashes. It velcroed around my daughter's wrist. I would hold the other end or slip it around the stroller handle when we went to someplace like...oh...the zoo. Worked like a charm. The verbal criticism and insults I received from total stramgers was astonishing. In a nutshell, I was a monster who treated her child like an animal. And I didn't deserve to be a mother. I had that same experience At that age, I still cared what other people thought of me, and it hurt. I had one of those backpacks with a tail for my daughter, who was a Houdini at that age! We always kept the tail resting on top of the backpack unless we entered a busy area, then we simply slipped the tail around our wrist and back we could go to splitting attention between her and her brother. Had we not taken precautions, it would have been easy to say "She slipped away. There was nothing we could do. Accidents happen." And they do, absolutely. But if you have a child who can't/won't go in a stroller and you know can't behave appropriately while walking then YOU TAKE PRECAUTIONS. I don't know, I have a hard time calling preventable disasters 'accidents'. (Even more so when I am the cause of them!)
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Post by cmpeter on May 30, 2016 22:46:16 GMT
Such a tragic situation...I am so glad the little boy is OK. I also had an escape artist for a child. If we went someplace like the zoo or Disney, she had one of the back pack harnesses or was strapped in her stroller. Not using either one wasn't an option...she had no fear of anyone/anything and loved to explore.
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Post by mlynn on May 30, 2016 22:50:53 GMT
I am sorry. 1 Adult with 6 kids, only 2 of which were hers. PLUS she works at a daycare. She knows what it takes to supervise 6 small children, and she knows what it takes to supervise this particular child. She just made something else a higher priority. And if I was the mother of one of the 4 kids that were not hers, I would be SO Pea-livid. And if I was that mom and came on here posting about my kid being part of that group, I bet half would be saying to whoop her hiney and half would be on my case for not making sure my child would be adequately supervised.
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Post by bostonmama on May 30, 2016 23:03:39 GMT
Some common sense from Jeff Corwin:
“Zoos aren’t your babysitter,” he said. “Take a break from the cell phone, the selfie stick and the texting. Connect with your children. Be responsible for your children. I don’t think this happened in seconds or minutes. I think this took time for this kid, this little boy to find himself in that situation. Ultimately it’s the gorilla that’s paid this price.”
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Post by auntkelly on May 30, 2016 23:26:03 GMT
I cannot imagine how badly the person feels who actually had to fire the shot that killed the gorilla. My heart goes out to that person and I am sure they would not have pulled the trigger unless they felt it was absolutely necessary to save the little boy's life. I wonder if the mom has even thought about the feelings of that person.
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