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Update (10:33 a.m.) The Cincinnati Zoo has released a public statement following the incident involving a four-year-boy climbing into the gorilla exhibit Saturday.
According to the statement, the toddler climbed through a public barrier at Gorila World around 4 p.m. Saturday, falling into the exhibits moat. The zoo’s Dangerous Animal Response team was called to respond to the life-threatening situation, making the difficult decision to kill the animal in order to save the child.
“The Zoo security team’s quick response saved the child’s life,” said Zoo Director, Thane Maynard.
“We are all devastated that this tragic accident resulted in the death of a critically- endangered gorilla. This is a huge loss for the Zoo family and the gorilla population worldwide.”
The child was alert when he was transported to hospital, but the hospital has not released details on his current condition.
Gorilla World will be closed until further notice.
Original Story:
A terrifying incident at the Cincinnati Zoo Saturday, after a four-year-old boy entered the gorilla enclosure.
Dramatic video record by a family member shows the 17-year-old gorilla dragging the little boy around the caged area while the young boy’s mother looked on, encouraging her son to keep calm.
While at one point the large animal looked to stand protectively over the toddler, he then grabs his arm and pulls him through the shallow water.
Zookeepers were forced to put the animal down after deciding a tranquilizer dart would be too slow to take effect.
The child reportedly survived the scary ordeal.
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