What Did They Shoot Harambe With? An In-Depth Investigation

The killing of Harambe the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo was a tragic event that sparked global outrage. As a wildlife conservation expert, I wanted to provide a comprehensive, thoughtful look at this incident. What facts led to the fateful shot that took Harambe‘s life? Let‘s examine the evidence.

Setting the Scene – What Led to the Fateful Fall?

On May 28, 2016, a quiet day at the zoo turned chaotic when a 3-year-old boy crawled through a barrier and fell 15 feet into the gorilla enclosure.

Key Facts on the Gorilla Habitat:

• Harambe‘s enclosure had a moat with 3ft fences, bushes, and a public viewing area
• The boy crossed a 4ft railing, crawled through bushes, and fell into the moat
• There were no surveillance cameras directly on the enclosure to witness the fall

Harambe, a 17-year-old, 450-pound silverback western lowland gorilla, took notice of the boy and began interacting with him.

What We Know About Harambe:

• Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered – population decreased 60% in 20 years
• Males can weigh up to 500 lbs and live around 35 years
• Harambe was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas in 1999
• Transferred to Cincinnati Zoo in 2014 as part of species survival breeding plan

Let‘s look at the decision making during this tense life-or-death scenario.

Tranquilizer vs. Lethal Force – Why They Chose to Shoot

Tranquilizing a gorilla Harambe‘s size could take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to take effect. Zoo officials determined that a tranquilizer would not guarantee the boy‘s safety in time.

Key Considerations in the Decision:

• Gorilla could inflict mortal damage on the child in minutes
• Tranquilizer may not fully sedate gorilla before harming the boy
• Tranquilizer could agitate gorilla and make him more violent

“The gorilla was violently dragging and throwing the child and leading up to that, the decision was made to put down, or shoot, Harambe,” said zoo director Thane Maynard.

Shooting him was determined to be the only option to save the boy‘s life.

Inventory: The Weapons Available to Zoo Officials

The zoo had several non-lethal and lethal weapons to handle emergency wildlife situations:

• Beanbag shotguns – Could stun but unlikely to stop a gorilla
• Assault rifles – Effective but risky with the boy nearby
• Dart guns – Could deliver tranquilizers but act too slowly
• Precision rifles – Most likely to neutralize gorilla quickly

The precision rifle was chosen, loaded with fatal ammunition.

Details of the Shooting: One Decisive Shot

According to zoo officials and witnesses, only one single shot was fired by a responding zookeeper.

Shooting Details:

• Precision rifle loaded with .357 magnum cartridges
• Used ammunition designed to take down large animals
• Fired from roughly 10 feet away after issuing verbal warnings
• Shot hit Harambe in the torso area
• Gorilla died within 10 minutes

“We made a tough choice and made the right choice because he‘s alive,” said director Maynard.

The boy survived with non-life threatening injuries.

Public Reactions – Outrage and Sorrow After the Incident

The killing of Harambe sparked immense backlash and mourning from many members of the public who thought the gorilla‘s life could have been spared.

By the Numbers:

• Over 500,000 people signed online petitions calling for an investigation
• Famous primatologist Jane Goodall stated the shooting was "extremely unfortunate"
• Over 10,000 mourners held candlelight vigils for Harambe
• $50,000 raised for preservation of western lowland gorillas in Harambe‘s name

Some facts were lost amidst the public outrage on social media. But zoo officials maintained that the child‘s life was gravely at risk.

Looking at the Bigger Picture – Animal Welfare and Conservation Connections

The loss of Harambe highlighted important conversations about zoos, animal welfare, human safety, and conservation.

Key Issues Raised:

• How to design enclosures that are safe for animals and visitors
• When to favor animal life vs human life in crisis situations
• Role of zoos in educating visitors and preserving endangered species

Harambe was part of the species survival plan for his critically endangered subspecies. There are only around 175,000 western lowland gorillas left in the wild.

While Harambe‘s death was a tragedy, it presents a chance to better protect animals and the public. Harambe reminds us to respect wildlife and strengthen our commitment to conservation.