Mum of boy who fell in gorilla enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo responds to backlash
The parents faced huge amounts of criticism
Michelle Gregg, believed to be the mum of a young boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure in Cincinnati Zoo, has spoken out after facing a huge backlash on social media.
Moments after the child fell into the enclosure, zoo staff shot and killed 17-year-old Harambe in a bid to protect the child, which angered animal lovers.
Michelle reportedly took to Facebook to say ‘accidents happen’.
"I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers today. What started off as a wonderful day turned into a scary one.
"For those of you that have seen the news or been on social media that was my son that fell in the gorilla exhibit at the zoo. God protected my child until the authorities were able to get to him.
"As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids. Accidents happen but I am thankful that the right people were in the right place today." Animal lovers were furious after the incident as eyewitnesses allege that the gorilla wasn’t aggressive towards the child and footage released later seemed to show the gorilla protecting him.
On social media people accused mum Michelle and Deonne Dickerson, reportedly the child's father, of not watching the young boy properly.
More than 250,000 people have since signed a petition calling for police to investigate the parents.
(Kate Villanueva joined activists as they held a vigil outside the zoo © PA Images)​
On a 'Justice for Harambe' petition page it says that:
"This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy's parents did not keep a closer watch on the child. We the undersigned believe that the child would not have been able to enter the enclosure under proper parental supervision.
*(**Cheryl Flaherty, of Cincinnati, holds a sign during a vigil outside the zoo **© PA Images**)***
"Witnesses claim that they heard the child state that he wished to go into the enclosure and was actively trying to breach the barriers. This should have prompted the parents to immediately remove the child from the vicinity.
"It is believed that the situation was caused by parental negligence and the zoo is not responsible for the child's injuries and possible trauma. We the undersigned want the parents to be held accountable for the lack of supervision and negligence that caused Harambe to lose his life."
It's not the first time this has happened. In 1986, five-year-old Levan Merritt fell into a gorilla enclosure in Jersey Zoo.
He had been knocked unconscious but was protected by a male gorilla called Jambo.
The 35-year-old said the video reminded him of his own ordeal, however he backed the move to shoot the gorilla pointing out that the creature wouldn't have known its own strength and so killing Harambe was the only way to save the young boy's life.
*(Tributes to Harambe ***© PA Images*)***
Animal rights activists held a vigil at Cincinnati zoo on Monday and left flowers by a gorilla statue.