Zoo to Review Health & Safety

Posted on June 3, 2016

A Cincinnati zoo is reviewing its health and safety policies and procedures, following the shooting of a Western Lowland Gorilla, after a 3 year old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure.

Representatives for the zoo have stated that the zoo keepers had no choice but to shoot the gorilla, while defending the safety measures which are in place around the enclosure. However animal rights activists have been blaming the zoo, accusing them of negligence. A Cincinnati based group called Stop Animal Exploitation Now, has filed a complaint against the zoo with the US Department of Agriculture. The parents of the boy have faced heavy criticism on social media. With members of the public being quick to blame them for not keeping a closer eye on the child.

The boy is thought to have climbed a 3 foot high fence and crawled through bushes before falling 15 feet into a moat. The zoo, which had its Gorilla World exhibit inspected in April of this year, has claimed the habitat was safe and complies with the necessary regulations. But Adam Roberts of animal rights group “Born Free USA” pointed out that, “For Cincinnati zoo to suggest that the enclosure was safe flies in the face of the reality of the boy going into the exhibit.”

Perhaps the design of zoo exhibits which first needs to be looked at, in order to stop another incident like this occurring.