I am not going to blast this family. Yes, I know the father has a criminal past but it sounds like he had turned his life around. Unlike so many, these parents were spending time with their children. They were taking them to the zoo. Seems to me that they were trying to do things the right way.
I read some of the posters talking about how they’re such great parents and they never take an eye off their children. I’ve known good parents that have lost children because of horrible events. Things happen. There are no perfect parents. We’re not in 100% control of everything in our lives. Things can change in a split second.
Also, from the article .......
“He insisted barriers were secure, asking: ‘Do you know any four-year-olds? They can climb over anything’”
—
The barriers may have been secure but they should be made to where four year olds cannot climb over them.
These parents may not be the brightest people but I believe they were trying to do things the right way. Yeah, they made a horrible mistake.
If you leave them alone for a few minutes.
Most of the focus seems to be on the parents, but I think the zoo is the most at fault party for providing an unsafe environment for children. The zoo is most at fault for the child almost being killed and the gorilla being killed.
The parents will likely file a lawsuit against the zoo for providing an unsafe environment for families at the zoo. That should result in changes at the zoo that will protect visitors and the animals in the zoo.