There has been a great controversy over the incident of Silver-back Gorilla, Harambe, being shot after a 3-year old boy fell into his zoo pen. Was he, or was he not protecting the boy? Was Harambe innocent? And who is to blame?
For a short feature of what happened, follow this link from ABC News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq5kxoCq8Io
For the full 30 minute briefing about the incident, follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ilMcPX3QY
The Controversy:
First, silver-back gorillas are an endangered species, so putting Harambe down was a huge loss to the zoo for breeding, and also to Harambe's species. Second, the standard bars that are used to keep visitors out of exhibits are being blamed, even though they were up to code. Third, the three year-old boy was held by the gorilla, but also violently dragged around the stone riverbed. He suffered multiple injuries. Fourth, Harambe was visibly stressed and disorientated from the public commotion and from the random human child in the exhibit, so tranquilizing him risked agitating him into further violence. Lastly, the rights of the gorilla are in question - was it unjust to shoot Harambe?
Seems complex enough, right? However, the details are hardly important to my point: I propose that modern relationships with animals complicate and blind our perception regarding priority. Obviously Harambe's life was highly valuable, but the human life of the three year-old obviously is the bigger priority in an emergency situation. It is a hard side to choose; modern ideology desires to have equal rights along with animals. But we cannot be equal - where there are differences there is inequality.
However, we need to realize that animal life resides in a different world that does not function like ours. The issue is with putting human qualities onto animals who are not human, and can never be no matter how much they are assimilated or controlled - #Americasgreatestendeavor. Emotions, problem solving, motherly instinct, communication etc. are all animal qualities that are shared, especially among mammals like gorillas, whales, dogs, cats and humans. They were not created by humans, therefore we do not have a claim to their quintessential intelligence.
Tarzan is only a Disney story. Humans would not have survived the animal world if it wasn't for our cunning intelligence to tame the earth as our footstool. We can't expect everything to become like us. We need to respect the differences between us and animals and their sheer wildness, because that is what makes them beautiful and free. Rest in peace Harambe, we thought we were doing our best for you...we know not what we do.
