In the storm of criticism in the aftermath of the shooting, some blamed the boy’s mother for failing to look after her son. Others said the zoo was too quick to take the decision to shoot Harambe.

Ian Redmond, Chairman of The Gorilla Organization, said keepers had other options besides a fatal shot.

“When gorilla or other apes have things they shouldn’t have, keepers will negotiate with them, bring food, their favorite treats, pineapple or some kind of fruit that they don’t know and negotiate with them,” he told CNN.

“I don’t know if that was tried or people thought there was too much danger but it does seem very unfortunate that a lethal shot was required,” he said.