Harambe the gorilla seemed to be protecting child, says Lee Durrell
The director of Jersey's wildlife park has told ITV News Harambe the gorilla, who was shot in America, appeared to be protecting the young boy who entered his enclosure.
Similarities have been drawn between the incident at Cincinnati zoo and the drama that unfolded when a young boy fell into Durrell's gorilla enclosure, 30 years ago.
Keepers at Durrell in 1986 managed to get the child out safely, after successfully encouraging Jambo the silverback to move away from the boy.
ITV Channel Television's report on Jambo the gorilla in 1986
On Saturday, 17-year-old gorilla Harambe was shot and killed by zookeepers in America after a four-year-old boy crawled through a barrier and into the enclosure.
Footage taken at Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday
Speaking about the video captured at the Ohio zoo, Lee Durrell said the ape was showing typical protective behaviour.
She said that, in hindsight, the keepers did have other options than to shoot the animal, although she pointed out the video only showed part of the story.
Almost 300,000 people have signed an online petition to hold the toddler's parents responsible for the situation.