Gorilla shooting: Police to investigate killing of Harambe

Outrage over the death of Harambe has grown Credit: Reuters

Police are investigating the circumstances around the death of a gorilla who was shot and killed after a three-year-old boy fell into his enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo.

The killing of Harambe, a 450-pound Western lowland silverback gorilla,has sparked global outrage - and debate - with the parents of the child and the zoo facing mounting criticism.

Police said the investigation would focus on the actions of the boy's family in the lead up to the shooting and not the operation or safety at the zoo.

Prosecutors then could decide to launch criminal proceedings.

Harambe was shot and killed after a child fell into his enclosure Credit: Reuters

Officers have also corrected earlier statements which had given the child's age as four.

The animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now filed a negligence complaint against the zoo with the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, an online petition at change.org has drawn more than 300,000 signatures demanding "Justice for Harambe", and calling for the parents of the child to be held accountable.

Michelle Gregg, the boy's mother, said on Facebook that people should not be "too quick" to judge and that "accidents happen", and also reported that her son had suffered a concussion and scrapes but was otherwise fine.

Her Facebook page has since been deleted.