The death of Harambe, the 17-year-old gorilla, on May 29, Sunday, has fueled outrage among animal rights activists and online users. Harambe was killed in order to save the life of the four-year-old boy who fell into the gorilla exhibit moat in Cincinnati Zoo and critics say the boy's parents Deonne Dickerson and Michelle Gregg should be held accountable for the incident.
The parents have been widely criticized after a zoo staff killed Harambe. Dickerson, who is the father of Gregg's four kids came out to have a long history of criminal records, including firearms offenses, drug trafficking, burglary, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and kidnapping, according to Daily Mail.
Since the incident took place on May 28, Saturday, social media users and animal rights activists have called out Gregg and Dickerson as irresponsible parents and blamed them over the death of Harambe. A community page Justice for Harambe to commemorate the gorilla has drawn more than 110,000 supporters and is still growing in number everyday.
A vigil for the male Western lowland silverback gorilla was held on May 30, Monday. A change.org petition was also signed by more than 138,000 supporters to call out on Gregg and Dickerson's responsibility in the death of Harambe.
In the latest video, it showed that Harambe stood beside the boy at the corner of the moat. There was even a moment when the gorilla and the boy held hands. Harambe was reportedly protective of the boy until the noise 0f the onlookers panicked the gorilla.
The Cincinnati Zoo is home to nine western lowland gorillas. Gorillas like Harambe is critically-endangered with only 175,000 remaining. There are nearly 765 gorillas placed in zoos all across the world.
On May 30, Monday, Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard wrote on Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Facebook account that they were deeply saddened about the death of Harambe and that they just did what they have to do to save the life of a child.
The Cincinnati Zoo authorities have also been condemned by the social media users for the killing of Harambe. Critics questioned why they killed the gorilla instead of tranquilizing the animal. It was the first time for the zoo authorities to kill an animal during an emergency situation, MIRROR reports.
The boy was announced safe after the killing of the gorilla. He was released from the hospital on May 29, Sunday, and was able to walk with just a concussion and little scrapes. The boy did not sustain any broken bones or serious internal injuries.
No charges have been filed against Gregg and Dickerson. The couple has declined to comment on the growing criticisms they are receiving due to Harambe's death.
Check out the latest video showing how the four-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati zoo: