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Cincinnati Zoo Terrifying 911 Phone Call: ‘I Cannot Watch…He’s Dragging My Son’

By Ashley Hoffman
Published on: 11:18 PST, Jun 1, 2016

CNN obtained a copy of the audio of the mother of the 4-year-old boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo—frantically calling 911. The mother was terrified as she watched the 450-pound gorilla, Harambe violently yank her young son through a narrow body of murky water.

TMZ has also released audio in which you can hear the terrified mother telling the 911 operator the following.

“He’s dragging my son! I can’t watch this…I cannot. I can’t watch.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP2muSu8krg

CNN stated that the mother called 911 as she felt it would be the quickest way to alert zoo officials of the incident.

“Hi. My son fell in the zoo at the gorillas…the Cincinnati Zoo, my son fell in with the gorilla. There’s a male gorilla standing over him. I need someone to contact the zoo please.”

The 911 operator reassured the mother that help has already been sent. The mother is now heard calling down to her son, telling him repeatedly to, “be calm.”

This can quite possibly be the exact moment in which Harambe stands the child up and adjusts his pants or drags him through the water to the other side of the enclosure and out of sight. The mother is then heard saying, “I cannot watch this.”

The child has yet to be identified—it has been reported the child has not suffered serious injuries after his terrifying encounter with Harambe. Ten minutes later, zoo personnel reluctantly shot and killed the gorilla.

With the mother saying she refuses to watch as her child is being dragged by a 450-pound gorilla—this should warrant many more opinions on her parenting style. Since the shooting of Harambe, thousands have been in conflict on social media. Some feel losing a child at the zoo can happen to anyone, while others are incredibly furious this mother did not “keep an eye” on or have control of her child. Many animal right’s activist are speaking out at the lost life of an endangered western lowland gorilla.

CNN quoted an excerpt from a Facebook status update posted by the mother.

“As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids… Accidents happen but I am thankful that the right people were in the right place today. Thank you to everyone that helped me and my son today and most importantly God for being the awesome God that He is.”

SELF retrieved the same alleged Facebook post that has been circling the internet.

“We continue to praise God for His grace and mercy, and to be thankful to the Cincinnati Zoo for their actions taken to protect our child…We are also very appreciative for the expressions of concern and support that have been sent to us. Some have offered money to the family, which we do not want and will not accept. If anyone wishes to make a gift, we recommend a donation to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe’s name.”

Mother Will Not Be Charged In Cincinnati Gorilla Shooting, Investigation Called Off

Cincinnati website stated that, according to a source close to the investigation, police have decided to wrap up the investigation of this tragedy with no recommendations of charges being held against the mother.

PETA was not too happy about the recent events involving the shooting of an endangered animal and wants to hold the Cincinnati Zoo accountable for the death of Harambe.

Change.org has 178,000 signatures supporting “Harambe’s Law.”

“Harambe’s Law, so there are legal consequences when an endangered animal is harmed or killed due to the negligence of visitors. If this law is enacted, it will not only protect the animals, but will hold individuals accountable for actions resulting in harm or death of an animal.”

[Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images]

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