Gorilla Harambe's death: Silverback protecting boy from threat of screaming crowd, expert says

At the Cincinnati Zoo on Sunday, a 4-year-old boy crawled through a barrier & tumbled into a gorilla enclosure.



Because of the perceived threat to the boy, the gorilla was later shot.

It’s hard to understand an animal’s view of the world. Some have interpreted the video as showing aggression by the gorilla.

Professor Gisela Kaplan, from the Centre for Neuroscience & Animal Behaviour at the University of New England (NSW Austalia), has suggested that because of the small size of the boy, he wouldn’t have been seen as a threat by the gorilla. Rather, the gorilla may have taken the cries of the crowd as a sign of aggression & have been attempting to protect the child.

What do you think?

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-31/gorilla-harambe-protecting-boy-from-screaming-zoo-crowd:-expert/7462198 / Gorilla Harambe death shot dead silverback protecting boy threat of screaming crowd expert Australian animal behaviour expert silverback gorilla shot USA zoo perceived screaming adults in the crowd enclosure little boy fell in real threat Harambe 17-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla shot at Cincinnati Zoo Saturday four-year-old boy crawled through a barrier tumbled into its enclosure animal behaviour professor Gisela Kaplan Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour University of New England NSW Australia gorilla immediately ruled out the boy as a threat known by the sheer size demeanour little boy not a threat size difference does matter in the natural world very obvious to the gorilla the boy not a threat no need to react aggressively dragged the boy through the water they do that with their own young get them out of danger quickly danger were the screaming adults pandemonium total chaos gorilla responded to the screaming took the boy away away from the screaming to save him animal lovers responded to the killing with anger director Cincinnati Zoo decision to shoot Harambe ape endangering the child who fell into the enclosure actually hurting him don't attack willy-nilly Professor Kaplan male silverback gorillas gentle giants conflict negotiators incident controversial tragic incidents American and English zoos gorillas are very gentle males role keep the peace in the group conflict negotiator peace maker peace-maker peacemaker male silverback gorillas not aggressive entire personality peace-keeping peacekeeping peace keeping Professor Kaplan not carnivores they don't kill other things don't kill people don’t attack willy-nilly in the wild is if there is a real threat perceived by the silverback male charge forward warning use branches percussion sound rattle the tree a bit flay his arms around opponent backtrack boy falling in spelt doom and tragedy for gorilla Cincinnati Zoo Professor Kaplan similar incident at Jersey Zoo in the United Kingdom boy about the same age fell into the enclosure didn't shoot the animal gorilla saved the boy from drowning cuddled him calmed down changed the view of gorillas completely not the King Kong image dangerous fierce animal gentle giant Professor Kaplan risk was small animal may have caused harm to the boy moment of panic pandemonium chaos, animals and people make decisions zookeeper we cannot take that risk tragedy gorilla probably came to help shot for it /