I am from Cincinnati, and have spent many summer days and winter nights there. I've been going to this zoo for my entire life, including the Gorilla World exhibit. Many times have I commented on the similarities between these animals and humans. Zero times have I ever seen a person even attempt to climb into the exhibit with the animals. I didn't even think it was possible-- there are ropes, fences, and a huge moat separating visitors from the gorillas. For a child to have climbed into the exhibit, enough to be touched by a gorilla, is a result of horrible parenting and negligence.

Secondly, there is a video of the incident. While it has been reported (i.e. sensationalized) by the media that Harambe "violently dragged" the child, there is no video evidence. The video, which was supposed to justify the murder of the gorilla, had the violent parts cut out. There is no reason to edit a video when it is used as evidence, as it takes away all credibility to your claims. That's just basic common sense.

Thirdly, if the gorilla wanted to kill the child, he would've. Gorillas are highly intelligent, and are aware of their own strength. Harambe was NOT trying to harm or kill the child (who only suffered from a concussion). Gorillas are often rough with their offspring, especially when trying to protect them. It is completely plausible that Harambe was trying to protect the child, and that is probably the situation that had occurred.

Fourth, the child got a concussion. He did not break bones, and he did not "almost die." If a four-year-old child was "dragged" and "beaten against a rock" by a freaking gorilla, he would have suffered from broken bones at the very least. Thus, there is no logical way to make the argument that the child was dragged OR beaten by Harambe.

Fifth, silverback gorillas like Harambe are critically endangered. The Zoo, through the CREW (Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife) program, protects and breeds these gorillas in order to increase the overall population. The population currently is 480 in the wild, in their natural habitat of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The murder of Harambe is a devastating loss for the gorilla community.

Sixth, the mother obviously cannot handle having a child. First, she allowed her child to fall three meters into an exhibit with a wild animal, which is heavily fortified. Then, she yelled "Mommy loves you" instead of getting in there and getting her child out. At risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, doesn't that scream "SOMETHING IS WRONG"? If MY child had jumped in the pit with a gorilla, I would be the first person to get my ass in that pit to save my son instead of just yelling "Mommy loves you." It sounds to me like she has Munchausen's by proxy, and wanted the attention.