Monkey Reaches Out to Young Girl at Zoo

In the latest tragedy involving a zoo animal, Harambe the gorilla was shot dead after a four-year old boy fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati zoo. While the child sustained no injuries, the 17-year old endangered animal lost his life, despite displaying behavior which has led experts to believe that Harambe was merely trying to protect the child. A mere week prior, two healthy lions were also shot dead when a visitor willingly entered their enclosure and reportedly tried to taunt them into attacking him in a zoo in Chile.

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Inside the Minds of Zoo Animals

Among the many reactions to this month's killing of Harambe, the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, is a question: Can animals, especially smart ones like gorillas, ever be truly happy in zoos?

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If We Value Animals So Much, What’s With All the Cages?

The sad story of Harambe, a 1-year-old silverback gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo on May 28 brings into focus the value—and morality—of zoos. After a three-year old boy wandered into Harambe’s enclosure, the gorilla was shot dead to “rescue” the boy. Heartbreakingly, a bystander’s video revealed that Harambe was actually being protective of his young visitor, even holding hands with the child for a few moments until the uproar from a panicked crowd resulting in him assuming a dominating stance.

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Gorilla World to Reopen at Cincinnati Zoo With 'Modified' Barrier

The Gorilla World exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will reopen Tuesday, with a taller barrier around the gorilla enclosure, the zoo announced today.  "It takes hard work and a sustained commitment to excellence to meet AZA accreditation standards," Thane Maynard, the director of the Cincinnati Zoo, said in a statement, referring to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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How the Phoenix Zoo Keeps Animals and Visitors Safe

There is a distinct difference between what happened at the Cincinnati Zoo when a small child fell into a 450-pound gorilla’s enclosure, and what's happening at the Phoenix Zoo, where the orangutans can walk right up to you.  “We wanted people to get up close and have that experience, but obviously not put them in a dangerous situation,” said Senior Primate Keeper with the Phoenix Zoo Denise Wagner

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