Want To Go To The Zoo??? (aka What Happens When Gorillas Attack!)

[Princess_Aurora]

There's about a few thousand people that won't ever want to go to the zoo after today

Three people were injured Thursday after a gorilla escaped from his habitat at the Dallas Zoo. NBC 5 reported that one adult and two children, ages 10 and 12, were injured, but not seriously. Dallas Deputy Police Chief Daniel Garcia said the three were bitten and scratched.

Officials said a 350-pound male gorilla went on a rampage early Thursday afternoon. The animal escaped about 5 p.m. The zoo was evacuated and police were notified.

When the animal charged two of the department's tactical officers around 5:30 p.m., getting within 15 feet of them, the officers opened fire, Garcia said. The animal died.

They just came back and said that 10 year-old boy is actually in critical condition with bites on his head and a puntured lung. He's expected to make a full recovery.

What I don't get is, aren't there people that are suppose to have tranquilizer guns for these occasions. Instead the gorilla is dead now I'm not saying the officers did something wrong, I'm just wondering where the tranquilizer guns went??? They did say the zoo is terribly understaffed though, so that probably has something to do with.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

I'd be scared to death...Gorillas are such big fellas and when they're mad they are REALLY mad!

 

[Planogirl]

The Dallas Zoo is severely understaffed and frankly not a very nice zoo. It's too bad that something like this happened but I doubt that this zoo would have the equipment to deal with it. I had heard from an earlier news report that the people were injured during the panicked rush of people running away but it turned out to be the gorilla itself? It's sad.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

OHmy.... this is the first I've heard about this! Now I know why I like the Fort Worth Zoo better... (it's one of the best!)

So sad.... for the children AND the gorilla. I agree with you- they should have been able to handle this situation with tranquilizers or something of that nature instead of shooting him dead. Better yet... how's about making sure he can't get out??
*sigh*
I hope the kids are okay... or get better quickly! (watch for the lawsuit that is sure to follow... and they should win!)

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Actually, we're taking the kids to the Ft. Worth Zoo tomorrow. We had it planned like a week ago though. I've always like the one in Ft. Worth better. The one is Dallas is nasty and it stinks.

 

[Kirby]

On the news last night, one of the people there said that kids were taunting and teasing the gorilla which caused him to break out and go on his rampage. As of last night, they didn't know how the gorilla got out of his habitat. I haven't watched the news this morning to see if there are any updates.

The gorilla had been at the zoo for eight years I heard and was 13 years old.

The Dallas Zoo is understaffed and is very old. They are trying to make it better but its a long ways off. I've heard the the tiger habitat is nice. I haven't been in awhile.

 

[piglet too]

Saw this story on Good Morning America. They were talking to the mom who was attacked along with her 3 year old son. I feel so sorry for that little boy as going to the zoo should be a wonderful childhood experiance. According to what I heard both of them will be OK, the little boy has a collapsed lung but is doing well. To listen to her describe the attack, and how they tried to escape by going into a building, but the gorilla got in with them, how horrrifying.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

that is a horrifying story.

I'm not saying the officers did something wrong, I'm just wondering where the tranquilizer guns went???

Tranquilizers can take a long time to have an effect. I would think that might be especially true on an animal experiencing a rush of adreniline.

 

[Rajah]

Most of the time I don't like it when the animals are killed for just doing what's in their nature, but I'm afraid this time it was the best choice, sad as that is. As Toby's Friend mentioned, tranqs can take a while to kick in, and until they did this gorilla was threatening the safety of guests and officers. I suspect if it hadn't charged the officers repeatedly (what I heard was it charged them, they backed off, it charged again, they backed off, and when it charged again they decided there was no other choice so they shot it), it would have been left alive and just subdued until a tranq could be brought in. But when it was charging people and kids, sometimes there's no other option.

So sad, for everyone involved, including the gorilla. And the officers.

 

[Tuffcookie]

What a terrible situation. What a shame they couldn't tranquilize
the gorilla instead of killing him.

TC

 

[Blondie]

From MSNBC

 

[piglet too]

As others have posted, tranquelizing is not always the best option. Sure, it is the preferred method, but not always best. The safety of humans came into play here, and when it comes right down to it, that is more important. A while back they had to kill a wolf at the Brookfield Zoo, here in the Chicago area. Some crazy lady had gone behind the scenes and stuck her arm through the wolf enclosure. Needless to say the wolf bit her and no coaxing at all would get the wolf to release her arm. They knew that the tranquelizers would take too long and the welfare of the crazy lady had to come first. The zoo has gotten a lot of backlash for its chioce, but they had to do it.

 

[Serena]