Awathan Gorilla shot dead

World news in brief: Gorilla shot dead after grabbing boy

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The Sunday Times, May 29 2016, 6:00pm, The Sunday Times

17-year-old gorilla Harambe is the first animal to be killed by the zoo’s dangerous animal response team

A gorilla was shot dead at a zoo in America yesterday after it grabbed hold of a four-year-old boy who had fallen into the moat around its enclosure.

Cincinnati zoo officials said the boy fell after he climbed through a public barrier at the Gorilla World exhibit on Saturday afternoon. He was picked up out of the moat and dragged by the gorilla for about 10 minutes.

Zoo Director Thane Maynard said the zoo’s dangerous animal response team decided the boy was in “a life-threatening situation” and that they needed to put down the 17-year-old 400-pound-plus male gorilla called Harambe.

Zoo director Thane Maynard said: "[The officials] made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life. It could have been very bad."

He said a tranquilliser would not have had a quick enough effect.

Mr Maynard said that although the boy was not under attack, he "certainly was at risk".

He added: "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."

Two female gorillas in the enclosure did not approach the child and were unharmed.

WALT: Make an informed opinion.

List Five Facts

1. The gorilla was 400 pounds
2. He was strong
3. 17 years old
4. The gorilla called Harambe

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Do you think the Gorilla should have been shot?

What’s your opinion and why? (3 sentences)

I think they should not kill the gorilla because the parents were not looking.

The gorilla did not kill the child.

Because the gate was not long and tall a enough .