Jack Hanna Defends Cincinnati Zoo for Killing Gorilla Harambe

Jack Hanna is speaking out to address the death of Harambe the Gorilla, who was shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo to save the life of a young boy who fell into the primate’s enclosure.

The 69-year-old famed zookeeper, who is the director emeritus of the nearby Columbus Zoo, says that the gorilla’s death was necessary.

“No one loves gorillas more than the Columbus Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the zoo world. We have given millions of dollars to preserve these animals,” Jack said in an interview with Good Morning America.

Jack says that the commotion from the crowd agitated the animal. “That gorilla was upset. Having worked with these animals for 35 years, I’ve seen them take a green coconut, which you can’t even bust open with a sledgehammer, and squish it… You’re dealing with human life or animal life here, so what is the decision? I think it’s very simple to figure that out.”

“Once that dart would go into that beautiful, big Silverback male… what’s he going to do with a child right there? He’s going to jump,” Jack explained about what would happen if a tranquilizer was used. “The power this animal has is beyond comprehension. They’re a magnificent creature. There’s no doubt in my mind that that child would not be here today if they hadn’t made that decision at the Cincinnati Zoo… a dart takes too long. The child would not have a chance.”

Watch a video of the incident below and read what celebrities are saying about the death of Harambe.