CINCINNATI — An animal protection watchdog group Tuesday called on federal authorities to hold the Cincinnati Zoo responsible for the death of an endangered western lowland gorilla.
The zoo's director, Thane Maynard, said Monday it remains safe for its 1.6 million annual visitors despite a weekend incident in which a gorilla was fatally shot to protect a 4-year-old boy who had entered its exhibit. But, he added that a review is underway to determine any improvements that can be made.
Maynard said the powerful gorilla was agitated and disoriented by the commotion during the 10 minutes after the boy fell and that the zoo stands by the decision to shoot 17-year-old Harambe. The boy was taken to a hospital and released Saturday evening; his family said he was "doing just fine" in a statement Sunday. He hasn't been identified publicly.
The Cincinnati-based Stop Animal Exploitation NOW said the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which inspects zoo facilities, should fine the zoo for violating the Animal Welfare Act by having an exhibit in which people can gain access to animals. The zoo didn't immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment.
Tanya Espinosa, a spokesman for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said Tuesday there wasn't an investigation open yet, but that the service will "be looking into this incident."
"The [zoo's] barrier obviously isn't sufficient to keep the public out," the watchdog group's executive director, Michael Budkie, said. "Otherwise, Harambe wouldn't be dead."
He said the zoo has had past issues, including in March, when two polar bears wandered through an open den door into a service hallway The zoo reported March 16 that zoo visitors were moved for safety after a male and female bear entered the behind-the-scenes service area but remained contained.