Take a look at those "parents".  The father has a lengthy criminal arrest record, including KIDNAPPING and Drug Trafficking.  

   No wonder the kid is such a brat. 

I would never second guess the decision of professionals as I was not there.  I did see the video and I will agree that the child's life was in danger.  However, the parent...yeah, I got LOADS of stuff to stay on that situation and I've voiced it on my Facebook page, so I won't repeat it here. It was a tragedy all the way around. Now the dust is settling, however, the parents ABSOLUTELY bear responsibility for this. At the very least, they owe the zoo money for the cost of the rescue and loss of a valuable zoo specimen.

It is not a thinking scenario but instead a tough decision to be made. IT WAS. As to the kid, the parent should be held to the highest reprimands known including exploring criminal charges of neglect and child endangering

I think the zoo officials had to make an immediate call for the safety of the child and glad human life trumped the lower species though it is sad that it even came to that and could have been prevented if the child had the proper supervision.

I'm staying out of this - but I will say I'm not surprised by the parents and that poor gorilla

Judge not least you be judged

It is just horrible. An animal in a zoo is sort of like prison. Do you think the animal is happy?. I did not know about the comments Fred Griffin made. That is also shocking.

I'm horrified that animal activists are speaking out that the gorilla shouldn't have been killed - when did an animal become more important than a human baby, despite any claims of the parents' wrongdoing. I can easily imagine how those parents felt seeing their baby in that situation and I don't think any of us are qualified to act as the judge and jury of their actions.

Everyone has an opinion in today's world here is mine:

I was born in Cincinatti, been to that zoo... I also own firearms. 

 From Forbes expert..." unsure which drugs the Cincinnati Zoo uses, but adds that a sedative agent such as medetomidine is often combined with a hallucinogen like ketamine. “I know of no drug that would have an immediate effect,” he says. According to one study, it takes over 5 minutes for a gorilla to pass out.

The accuracy of a tranquilizer gun is also lower than a rifle, increasing the chances of a dart hitting the child, Hubbell points out. “The dose of sedative would be harmful to the child and the commotion probably would have further excited the gorilla.”

Okay assuming it might take 4  minutes to knock out the gorilla and he would become angry- could the zoo not have Two shooters? One with tranquilizer darts and other with real bullets? Try and knock him out, and shoot to kill if he gets worse...??? 

I have no comment about mother or how the child was supervised. Bad things happen in a nano second. 

I am sad the world lost an endangered animal. 

One more thing - why is the crowd watching yelling and making the gorilla more frightened, someone level headed in audience should say "Be quiet everyone!"

I live in theme park country.  Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Lego Land all have protocols and systems in place for lost children.  Why are they there?  Because it happens MULTIPLE TIMES each day to EXCELLENT, LOVING AND CARING PARENTS!  I can assure you that it is not because they are all bad parents or that they don't care about their children.  Prosecute these parents who are already traumatized?  I could not wish this on them just as I would not wish it on the thousands who have had children go missing in the above mentioned parks. 

I think it was a tragedy but was handled appropriately.

The lady ran a daycare and had other kids with her that divided  her attention.  She should have had more adults with her to help supervise.

Just the fact that witnesses said the kid wanted to go swim with the gorillia, and the mother said "no" translates into this for me:  The mother should have kept a grip (or a leash) on a child  that does does not mind and does what he wants.

Eve

What would your question be if the Guerrilla had killed the 3 year old with a dart sticking from his haunches?

On one side of this conversation are RADICALIZED PETA and humane society mouthpieces. On another side you have those who want to make parenting impossible.

The reality is there are parents who are living a nightmare that won't end because those who are unaffected want to be heard.

Group A and Group B would rather see animals roam free while kids are on leashes.

The whole world is going crazy.

Knowing it was a last resort for the zookeepers to make that decision, I feel what they did was right.  You notice they weren't out there trying to get the gorilla away from the kid.  That should tell you everything about how powerful these animals are.

A tragic situation, but the weight of the human life was more important. 

Sorry; I will not 'armchair quarterback' on this one.  Not enough first-hand information.

I think I was a very attentive parent and I lost a child here and there.  I'm sad about the gorilla but vs a child, it's a no brainer.

it's ultimately the parents' fault... their full attention should have been on their child, especially since the child was only a toddler..... no excuse for it.

I think they made the only decision they possible could have.

I think it's a parent issue - not a gorilla issue.

sad story but humans over animals

Don't have enough facts to make a judgment on charges against the parents. As for the gorilla, they made the right choice to protect the child!

There were no alternatives than killing the animal.

it is horrible but the parents should be financially penalized in a severe way

Zero blame to the parents and one hundred percent of the blame to the zoo.  Every parent has that hot heart when they realize their child is missing, even for just 10 seconds.  No one can be the perfect parent, kids run off and there is nothing to prevent it.  I've seen kids on a leash.  I don't this so!

Leanne Carpenter - I had mentioned earlier. A life of a human being is important - and politically correct, too.

The zoo did what they had to and it was the right decision, tough and sad, but right! The parents need to be charged, Kids can be fast and get away from you in a blink of an eye, but in the next blink...I'd be down there with my child! 

It was a no win situation for the zoo, either way people would say they did the wrong thing.

It's a shame the gorilla had to die, but the zoo officials did it to protect the child. Who knows what may have happened the longer the child and gorilla were together. 

A real tragedy but handles appropriately.

I think that there are far too many armchair quarterbacks involved.

In one of the newscasts, I saw a drawing of what that gorilla area looked like, and it appeared to 'not' be easy to get into - one did not just 'flip over a low railing' and they were in.  I have seen parents not watch or even know where their kiddo is at certain events, which is always beyond scary to me personally.  Do not know this parent's situation, but cannot believe they were right there . . .  I do not want to see a kiddo hurt or killed by any animal that is in a protected area.  And all of the above being said, I am sad to tears they had to kill and not just tranq that gorilla.  I heard it was a rare gorilla, and it did not look like he was protecting the kiddo by dragging it around the water, but I just don't know, and feel very bad for the outcome Leanne Carpenter.  I have now heard on the news today that the parents are 'askong for charity in the gorilla's memory'.  I wonder if that was per their attorney's suggestion . . .  I'm just not happy with the whole situation!

I think the boy's parents should face at least a stiff fine. The decision was difficult, but probably the right one to save the child's life.

Sad scenario all around. 

It is sad.

I think the zoo needs better fencing.  I feel bad that they had to kill the gorilla but sooner that then the boy killed.  No opinion on the parents yet.

This is very sad indeed.  I wish they could have shot the  Gorilla to induce sleep rather than kill him.  The parents should have been aware of where their child was at all times.  I know there are numerous thoughts on this but things happen and when they do we are all affected.

If the child was in danger, kill the beast.  Tranqs take time to take effect and can leave the beast disoriented.  If it was far enough away from the kid, tranq it.

From what I've seen of the video, lethal force was the only option.  The zoo would have been in deep doodoo if they waited to act and the kid died.

From what I've seen, the kid was one of four there with the parents (all belonging to the parent).  The kid should have had more sense then to go climbing in there.  The mom had posted a "don't judge me, you don't know me" post on facebook (which has since been removed).  There have been cries from the people to send child protection to her house to investigate the living conditions.  Sadly, this will probably happen in today's society even though this is not an event that should trigger such a visit.

Should the parent face charges?  Yes.  What type?  What ever charges would be filed against an adult who climbs into the exhibit, since the parents are ultimately responsible for the child's actions.

They did the right thing, but I don't know enough to pass judgement on the parents

Leeanne,

First of all neither one us like zoos.  The zoo did the best it could to handle the situation.  Parental responsibility is a loaded subject, and yes, if it were up to me the parents should pay for a new gorilla.  A

I think it is hard to make a decision without having been there and knowing more details.