Family says boy who fell in Cincinnati zoo's gorilla enclosure 'doing well'

The family of the three-year-old boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo has said that he is doing well. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ISIAH DICKERSON

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - The family of a three-year-old boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, prompting the killing of the endangered animal in order to rescue the child, said on Wednesday (June 1) the boy is doing well and suggested donations in the gorilla's name.

In its statement on Wednesday, the family said: "Our child has had a checkup by his doctor and is still doing well. We continue to praise God for His grace and mercy, and to be thankful to the Cincinnati Zoo for their actions taken to protect our child."

The family, whose name has not been released by the police, said it had been offered money, without specifying what the funds were intended for, but said it would not accept financial gifts. "If anyone wishes to make a gift, we recommend a donation to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe's name," it said in a statement to Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT.

Harambe, a 17-year-old, 200kg Western lowland silverback, was shot by officials after the boy fell into its enclosure on Saturday. Police are investigating to determine if charges should be filed against the child's parents.

Witnesses said the boy had expressed a desire to get into the enclosure and climbed over a 1m barrier, falling 4.6m into a moat. Zookeepers took down gorilla after he violently dragged and tossed the child, officials said.

The boy's mother previously said on Facebook that he suffered a concussion and scrapes but was otherwise fine.

Mounting outrage over last Saturday's killing of Harambe sparked criticism of both the zoo and the child's parents.

Online petitions at change.org drew more than 650,000 signatures demanding "Justice for Harambe".

The death of the gorilla also prompted the animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now to file a negligence complaint on Tuesday against the zoo with the US Department of Agriculture. The group is seeking the maximum penalty of US$10,000.

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