The boy’s mother was harshly criticized on social media, where many accused her of negligence for losing sight of her son. However, others came to her defense, arguing that in public places, especially with small children, accidents can happen in a matter of seconds.
Animal behavior experts explained that, although the gorilla didn’t appear aggressive at first, its immense strength could have unintentionally caused harm. “This isn’t malice, but rather instinct and ignorance of the degree of human fragility,” they stated.
The Harambe case became a global media phenomenon. Animal rights movements, zoo safety awareness campaigns, and even memes satirizing the tragedy emerged, which also drew criticism for trivializing such a delicate situation.
Years later, the video remains one of the most searched for on the internet, both for its emotional impact and for the ethical questions it raises: Should we keep wild animals in captivity? Was it right to sacrifice Harambe? What lessons have we learned?
The truth is that on that day, a child’s accidental fall into a gorilla cage not only stopped the hearts of those present, but also sparked a global debate about human life, animal life, and the limits of our decisions in critical moments.