Jane Goodall, the famed British primatologist, revealed her thoughts about the Cincinnati Zoo’s decision to shoot and kill Harambe the gorilla in late May.
Several weeks ago, Goodall refrained from commenting on Harambe’s death in the midst of intense public scorn of the zoo and the parents of a 3-year-old boy who fell into the gorilla’s enclosure.
On Sunday, she issued a response, addressing several points following the gorilla’s death.
Goodall said she agreed with the zoo’s controversial decision to shoot the ape, as “it takes time for a tranquilizing dart to take effect,” but she noted that “it was awful for the child, the parents, Harambe, the zoo, the keepers and the public.”
“When people come into contact with wild animals, life and death decisions sometimes have to be made,” she stated, according to a transcript containing her answers published by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) conservation charity.
