Baby gorilla killed

[wheaten]

Just read that a baby gorilla has been killed at London Zoo by a male adult silverback. Poor little thing. I know that it could be 'good' for species to be bred and protected but it makes you wonder if we're doing the right thing?

[pastafreak]

But this can also happen in the wild.....and even in a protected environment like a zoo,animals will do what is instinctive. A shame though.

[Prudie]

As pasta said, this is natural behaviour in the wild for male gorillas to attack the young of other groups.

[wheaten]

I know it's natural but in the wild a mother can hide her baby or escape somewhere. A friend 'found' a baby bird on the ground and took it in but it died, she was horrified when I told her that the mother bird had probably hidden it to keep it safe, they do in my garden as the crows attack the nests.

[heathfield]

The baby and its mother were being introduced to a new male silverback, and a fight broke out, with the baby getting caught up in it. Gorilla males have harems, and will kill any infants that are not theirs. Perhaps the female knew this was going to happen and tried to defend the infant. Seems a negligent act on the part of the zoo authorities. They, of all people, must be fully aware of gorilla behaviour.

[Chaffinch]

How sad :(

[mrs.chappie]

Very sad. :o(

[wildwood]

I find it hard to believe that a male Gorilla would purposely kill an infant, but under stress animals (including humans) do funny things.
The wild Gorilla groups are very loosely organised and often a visiting male will mate in full front of the alpha male, even sticking around with the group for a while.

Left alone, Gorillas have a chance to avoid extinction but their ever shrinking environment and senseless slaughter for Gorilla trinkets virtually necessitates humans to keep them in captivity to try ensure their ongoing presence on this planet.