Jane Goodall is a primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, UN Messenger of Peace and arguably the world’s foremost authority on gorillas.
And while Goodall has yet to comment publicly on the tragic turn of events that resulted in an endangered silverback gorilla named Harambe being shot dead after a young child fell in his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, she has written an email to the zoo’s director, Thayne Maynard.
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In the email, Goodall neither condemns nor criticizes the zoo’s actions in killing Harambe, but seems remorseful about his death — and worries about how the other gorillas are handling the loss of their friend.
“Dear Thayne,”; writes Goodall. “I feel so sorry for you, having to try to defend something which you may well disapprove of. I tried to see exactly what was happening — it looked as though the gorilla was putting an arm around the child — like the female who rescued and returned the child from the Chicago exhibit.”;
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Goodall continues: “Anyway, whatever, it is a devastating loss to the zoo, and to the gorillas. How did the others react? Are they allowed to see, and express grief, which seems to be so important.”;
She concludes: “Feeling for you, Jane.”;
