		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p>The Cincinnati Zoo has reopened its gorilla exhibit with a higher, reinforced barrier installed after a young boy got into the exhibit and was dragged by a 400-pound gorilla, which was then shot and killed.</p>
<p>The exhibit&#8217;s reopening came a day after Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said he would not bring charges against the boy&#8217;s mother, who was tending to another child when her three-year-old &#8220;just scampered off&#8221;.</p>
<p>The barrier, which had passed repeated inspections by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, will now be 42 inches high -a half-foot taller than before &#8211; with solid wood beams at the top and bottom, plus knotted rope netting at the bottom, the zoo said. Surveillance cameras also were added.</p>
<p>Director Thane Maynard said the exhibit had been safe for 38 years, but the new barrier helps to reassure guests and protect everyone on both sides of it henceforward.</p>
<p>It &#8220;redoubles our effort to make sure that our animals are safe and that our visitors are as well&#8221;, Mr Maynard said.</p>
<p>The boy apparently climbed over the previous barrier May 28, made his way through some bushes and fell about 15 feet into a shallow moat. A special response team shot the agitated, 17-year-old gorilla to protect the boy, who was treated for scrapes.</p>
<p>Cincinnati resident Rebekah Ridgeway was visiting with her seven-year-old daughter as the exhibit reopened and said while the previous barrier was good, she feels more comfortable as a parent with the new fencing that visitors can see over but that blocks someone from climbing through.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was shocking to hear something like that happen at this zoo, because we know that they have such good safety measures here,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So it was really heartbreaking for Harambe the gorilla, as well as for the child and their family.&#8221;</p>
<p>The gorilla&#8217;s killing set off a torrent of criticism online, with some people vilifying the zoo for shooting the animal and others blaming the boy&#8217;s mother for not watching her child more closely.</p>
<p>The family has said the boy is doing well and they are taking steps to put the &#8220;tragic episode&#8221; behind them.</p>
<p>Mr Deters said he has been a bit surprised by the reaction to the gorilla&#8217;s death. He said the zoo suffered a great loss, &#8220;but it&#8217;s still an animal. It does not equate human life, and they felt that this boy&#8217;s life was in jeopardy, and they made the painful choice to do what they did&#8221;.</p>
<p>The zoo&#8217;s actions will be reviewed separately by the US Department of Agriculture. An animal protection group has urged that the zoo be fined.</p>
<p>The zoo says its 10 remaining gorillas are doing well. Two are 20-year-old females that were grouped with Harambe. The others are a family group of eight, led by a silverback named Jomo.</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ed302f883a1">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ed302f883a1',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
