Vigil held at Cincinnati Zoo for gorilla killed after boy fell into exhibit

By The Associated Press

Animal rights activists have gathered at the Cincinnati Zoo for a vigil in remembrance of a gorilla who was fatally shot to protect a 4-year-old boy who had fallen into its exhibit.

Dozens of people were outside the zoo Monday afternoon. They held signs with messages such as “Rest in Peace Harambe.”

A 4-year-old boy slipped through a barricade at the gorilla exhibit on Saturday and fell into a small moat. A zoo special response team feared the boy’s life was in danger, so they shot and killed the gorilla, named Harambe.

Vigil organizer Anthony Seta of Cincinnati calls the 17-year-old western lowland gorilla’s death “a senseless tragedy.” But he says the purpose of the vigil isn’t to point fingers but to pay tribute to Harambe.

There has been a strong outpouring on social media of people upset the gorilla was killed Saturday. A Facebook page called “Justice for Harambe” created Saturday night has drawn wide attention.

Seta says Monday’s memorial is meant as a tribute, not to point fingers at the zoo or the boy’s parents. The boy hasn’t been identified and his family says he is doing fine at home.

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