**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**CINCINNATI, OH – May 28, 2016** – A fatal incident at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has resulted in the death of a 17-year-old male western lowland gorilla, following an emergency response to protect a three-year-old child.
**Who:** The deceased is Harambe, a critically endangered western lowland gorilla, and a resident of the zoo’s Gorilla World habitat.
**What:** Zoo personnel discharged a firearm to terminate the gorilla, after a child entered the enclosure’s moat. Harambe was observed dragging the child through the water for approximately ten minutes.
**When:** The event occurred on Saturday, May 28, at approximately 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
**Where:** The Gorilla World enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
**Why:** Zoo officials have stated that the decision to use lethal force was made by the zoo’s Dangerous Animal Response Team, who determined that the child was in imminent danger. The tranquilizer option was deemed unsuitable due to the delayed onset of the drug’s effects, which could have agitated the animal and escalated the risk to the child.
The child, whose identity has not been released, is reported to be in stable condition and receiving medical evaluation at a local hospital. The zoo remains closed pending a full investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department.