Articles on Harambe

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October 14, 2016

Zoos aren’t meant to be maximum security prisons – and sometimes there will be an escape

Robert John Young, University of Salford

Good zoos should be treated like they treat their animals. That means not beating them over the odd mishap.

A makeshift shrine to Harambe, the zoo gorilla whose death has raised some uncomfortable moral questions. William Philpott/Reuters

June 8, 2016

How do we weigh the moral value of human lives against animal ones?

Daniel Crimston, The University of Queensland; Brock Bastian, University of Melbourne; Matthew Hornsey, and Paul Bain, Queensland University of Technology

We tend instinctively to value human lives over non-human ones. But is there a point where the scales might tip the other way?

Menageries of the 19th century brought exotic animals (and people) to Western society – as do many zoos today.

June 6, 2016

Is it time to break with colonial legacy of zoos?

Jason Michael Lukasik, Augsburg College

The shooting death of Harambe the gorilla has once again raised concern for the well-being of zoo animals. But animals in zoos may be fated by the very institution we have created to protect them.

A makeshift shrine at the Cincinnati Zoo, where Harambe, a male gorilla, was killed by zoo officials. William Philpott/Reuters

June 3, 2016

Gorilla’s death calls for human responsibility, not animal personhood

Richard L. Cupp, Pepperdine University

The death of Harambe the gorilla has sparked outrage and raised questions over the adequacy of zoos, but protecting some animals through legal personhood is flawed and dangerous, says legal scholar.

Top contributors

Brock Bastian
ARC Future Fellow, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne
Robert John Young
Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Salford
Paul Bain
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Queensland University of Technology
Jason Michael Lukasik
Asst. Professor and Director of the Master of Arts in Education program, Augsburg College
Daniel Crimston
Lecturer in Social Psychology, The University of Queensland
Richard L. Cupp
John W. Wade Professor of Law, Pepperdine University
Matthew Hornsey
Professor, School of Psychology, University of Queensland