Astonishing new footage how Harambe the gorilla was protecting a four-year-old boy who fell into his cage - minutes before he was shot dead.
Moments later, the gorilla was fatally shot in a bid to protect the boy, Isaiah, who had fallen 12 feet into the enclosure.
Harambe, a 17-year-old silverback gorilla, was shot dead by Cincinnati zookeepers who feared for the child's safety.
However, eyewitnesses to the incident on Saturday have claimed the gorilla was showing no aggressive behaviour towards the boy.
It is claimed that screams from those watching the unfolding situation panicked Harambe, causing him to drag Isaiah at a quick speed across the water. In one moment, the gorilla even appears to wrap his arms around the boy.
At one point Isaiah and Harambe even appear to briefly hold hands.
Speaking to Mirror Online, ape expert Dr Emily Bethell, a senior lecturer in Primate Behaviour at Liverpool John Moores University, revealed that the gorilla’s body language showed he was NOT threatening the childDr Bethell said: “He was clearly being protective towards the boy.
“There were no signs of the gorilla being aggressive in the sense that he wanted to hurt the boy or anything like that.
“The biggest threat to the boy I would say is obviously when the gorilla moved and dragged him, that could have caused some harm, but the gorilla’s body language is definitely protective.”
In the latest video from the dramatic scene in Cincinnati, Ohio, the boy is seen sitting calmly next to the massive animal.
In one moment, the gorilla even appears to wrap his arms around the boy.
At one point the boy and gorilla even appear to briefly hold hands.
Emily continued: “I would speculate that the boy is a new stimulus, he’s something novel.
“The gorillas would never have seen a child at such close quarters.
“The child obviously wasn’t posing any threat to the gorillas so there’s no need to attack him and I think it’s fortunate for the boy that one gorilla came over and effectively shielded him and kept the other gorillas away.
“I think it looks mostly like a case of extreme interest by the gorillas.”
The boy's mother Michelle has faced criticism for social media users and animal rights campaigners, who claim she should have been keeping a closer eye on her child.
Some animal lovers even suggested she and the boy's father Deonne Dickerson should have been shot and killed instead of the gorilla Harambe.
Responding to the criticism on Facebook, she said: "I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers today.
"What started off as a wonderful day turned into a scary one.
"For those of you that have seen the news or been on social media that was my son that fell in the gorilla exhibit at the zoo.
"God protected my child until the authorities were able to get to him."
Gorilla controversy
Brittany Nicely was at the zoo with her children when she witnessed the incident.
Writing on Facebook after the incident, she said: "R.I.P Harambe so so sad.
"Witnessing this situation and hearing them shoot him has been one of the most horrific things I have ever been a part of
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