Cover image via Metro UKThe decision by Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio, U.S. to shoot down a 180kg gorilla named Harambe just one day after his 17th birthday has sparked a massive public outcry
**On Saturday, 28 May, the Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed Harambe, a western lowland gorilla after a 3-year-old boy slipped into the animal's enclosure and before was dragged by Harambe in the water for about 10 minutes.**
A special zoo response team shot and killed a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe (pictured) that grabbed and dragged a four-year-old boy who fell into its gorilla exhibit moat, the Cincinnati Zoo's director said.
Image via WLWT
The incident became controversial when a witness claimed that Harambe appeared to be "protecting" the child before it was shot by the zoo officials, suggesting that it was harmless
Harambe appears to stand in front of the boy in a corner of the moat. Some people have suggested that it was trying to shield the child from panicked bystanders.
Image via ViralHog
Many believe that the parents should be held responsible for not looking after their child properly, saying that Harambe suffered a "senseless" death due to their negligence
Image via Twitter
Image via Twitter
Image via Twitter
However, Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard has defended the decision to shoot and kill Harambe. He also offered an explanation on why they did not use a tranquiliser.
Image via Reuters
"That child's life was in danger. People who question that don't understand you can't take a risk with a silverback gorilla — this is a dangerous animal," he was quoted as saying by [CNN](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/30/us/gorilla-shot-harambe/).
**"Looking back, we'd make the same decision. The child is safe."**
Global protests against the parents and zoo have been growing ever since the incident was reported by various international media such as CNN, BBC and The Independent
Image via Reuters
More than 246,000 people have signed an [online petition](https://www.change.org/p/cincinnati-zoo-justice-for-harambe) that is calling for the boy's parents to "be held accountable for the lack of supervision and negligence that caused Harambe to lose his life".
Another [petition](https://www.change.org/p/denise-driehaus-support-harambe-s-law-for-the-gorilla-killed-in-cincinnati) was also created following the tragic incident. The petition is seeking for the enactment of a law that will result in "legal consequences when an endangered animal is harmed or killed due to the negligence of visitors". More than 85,000 have signed this petition.
