Vigil pays tribute to slain gorilla

CINCINNATI — Dozens of animal rights advocates and others held a Memorial Day vigil at the Cincinnati Zoo in remembrance of a gorilla that was fatally shot to protect a 4-year-old boy who entered its exhibit.

The male western lowland gorilla named Harambe was killed Saturday. Video taken by zoo visitors showed the gorilla at times appeared to be protective of the boy but also dragged him through the shallow moat.

Animalrights activist Anthony Seta called the death “a senseless tragedy” but said the purpose of Monday’s vigil wasn’t to point fingers. Rather, he said, it was a tribute to Harambe, who turned 17 the day before hewas shot.

Kim O’Connor, who witnessed the boy’s fall, has said she heard the youngster say he wanted to get in the water with the gorillas. She said the boy’s mother was with several other young children.

“The mother’s like, ‘No, you’re not,’ ” O’Connor told WLWT-TV.

In the days since, people have taken to social media to voice their outrage about the killing of amemberof an endangered species. A Facebook page called “Justice for Harambe” was created Saturday night, along with online petitions and another page calling for a June 5 protest at the zoo.

The zoo’s director, Thane Maynard, said its dangerous-response team made the right call. He noted that a tranquilizer wouldn’t have immediately felled the 400-pound-plus gorilla.

“This is very emotional, and people have expressed different feelings,” Maynard said. “Not everyone shares the same opinion ... but we all share the love for animals.”