New video footage of Harambe shows the 400-pound gorilla HOLDING HANDS with the boy who fell into exhibition moat as the zoo director insists they were right to shoot him and the barriers were safe
- Harambe was fatally shot after a four-year-old boy crawled past the railing and fell 15ft into the gorilla exhibit moat, authorities said
- But witnesses said the gorilla was 'acting protectively' and the zoo director confirmed the boy was not under attack
- Video shows the boy reaching for Harambe's arm, and they briefly held hands
- Many have blamed the boy's parents for 17-year-old Harambe's death
- They released a statement on Sunday saying their boy is doing 'just fine
- Zoo director said Harambe was 'disoriented' and tranquillizer would have taken too long with the possibility of agitating the animal even more
- Director said: 'Looking back we would make the same decision
- He insisted barriers were secure, asking: 'Do you know any four-year-olds? They can climb over anything
The 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male, Jambo, peered over to look at Levan who lay motionless on the concrete |
In the remarkable incident that followed, Jambo stroked his back and protected him from the circling pack |