Ricky Gervais has added his voice to those speaking out about the shooting of a silverback gorilla in a US zoo after a four-year-old boy fell into its enclosure.
Harambe the gorilla was shot dead by officials at Cincinnati Zoo after a young boy climb through a barrier and fell into a moat where he was kept. Video footage shows the gorilla dragging the young boy across the water, prompting officials to shoot him. The zoo said it had no tranquillisers available at the time and resorted to using lethal bullets.
Gervais responded to the incident in a tweet which has been re-shared thousands of times:
The comedian is a prominent animal rights activist and has spoken out against the killing of animals, often leading condemnation against trophy hunters.
The decision to shoot Harambe has sparked a backlash and questions about how a boy managed to fall into the enclosure. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has said the zoo should have had better barriers erected between visitors and the gorillas.
Gervais was joined in his criticism by Queen guitarist Brian May, who said there was “no excuse” for the killing of the gorilla, and Piers Morgan, who added: “A magnificent gorilla dies because a zoo failed to make its barriers safe”.
Thane Maynard, the director of Cincinnati Zoo, has defended the incident and insisted the zoo is safe for visitors.
He said a review is underway to determine if there are any measures that could be put in place to make the zoo safer.
In a post on social media identifying herself as the boy's mother, a woman called Michelle Gregg asked others not to judge her because “accidents happen". She said her son had suffered a concussion and a few cuts but would make a full recovery.
The family released a statement on Sunday in response to the gorilla's death.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff,” it said. “We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla.”
A Cincinnati police spokesman said no charges against the parents were being considered.
Additional reporting by agencies
