Judgment not needed in gorilla death
Yeah, we parents have all had times when our kids have gotten away and lucked out and somehow not gotten killed. The gorilla was spooked by the panicked crowd. It dragged the child away from the mob that looked crazy. Although I would not like to be dragged by a gorilla myself, I can understand its actions. It was probably trying to protect child from the human troop.
What I do not understand is the shooting of the gorilla rather than send in its caretaker to rescue the child or tranquilize it with a dart. Gorillas are not tigers or hyenas. They are intelligent. More intelligent than dogs or pigs or some people. Yes, they are big and strong and scary. But was this killing necessary to save the child? I doubt that very much.
We will never know what might have happened. What we do know is that the parents’ inattention caused this fine animal to be killed.
At very least, they should be liable for the cost of a replacement of the animal. An apology to the zoo and the public is also in order. And that child should be grounded from entry to any zoo anywhere until he reaches the age of majority.
This killing was the result of an instinctual fear. We should not be too judgmental of those who reacted to the situation with bullets rather than cool reason. They did not have time to react better.
But that gorilla is still dead. When you kill there are no second chances. It is final.
Tom Beach
Kamuela
Don’t fence off recreation
As we watch the monstrous building going up for the new Pahoa Park, the same line keeps running through my mind – Parks and Recreation needs to stop fencing off access to our recreation possibilities.
Are the parks, community centers and senior centers fenced and locked in Hilo and Kona? Waimea? No. What is the purpose of spending all our money for us and then not allowing access? It looks and feels like a prison, it’s not attractive to tourists and residents don’t like it either.
Personally, I envision a community and senior center that is open and active day and night. If you are a lonely senior you should be able to go play bingo at 10 p.m. Our community center could be stocked with supplies and peopled with lovers of art, music, sewing, cooking, if you didn’t spend millions on fencing us out.
Give people something constructive to do and they won’t be so miserable they need to smoke ice.
Sara Steiner
Pahoa