People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are saying the death of Harambe the silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo was preventable. Brittany Peet is Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement for PETA.
Peet points out gorillas only attack when provoked. She also blames the zoo for not having a secondary barrier to prevent anyone from slipping into the enclosure where they shouldn’t be. Peet also says the onlookers should have been cleared away immediately because their screaming likely agitated and upset Harambe.
Peet says judging by the reaction to Harambe’s death, there has been a huge shift in public opinion in favour of animal rights. She also points out Ringling Brothers Circus will no longer use elephants and Seaworld is ending its breeding programme.
Peet believes more and more people are coming to the view that wild animals are not here to entertain humans and be gawked at.
