Since the story is viral, and easy to find if you don't already know about Harambe the gorilla, I'm not going into specifics. You can find them yourself and the video of him online.
But to give a little background, he's a Silverback gorilla who is critically endangered. He was killed after a four year old boy got into his enclosure. The entire event is terribly unfortunate and opinions are widespread on the issue of whether he truly needed to be shot, whether to charge the parents of the child with neglect, etc.
Anyways, everything considered and controversy aside, I think the real issue is having animals in captivity in the first place. Is it the best way to see animals? Definitely not. Is it a good way to breed endangered animals? Possibly. Is it a great way to learn about animals and create empathy? Possibly. I guess it's good in the interim but the best way to learn is in person, in the wild.
While in grad school, I was fortunate to take a class in Costa Rica. It was truly one of the most beautiful places that I've been so far in my life. I got to go to the rain forest and see many plants, animals, and ecosystems in person. It was magical!
The best part was the animals. There are so many beautiful birds, deer, monkeys, turtles, rodents, etc. Seeing spider monkeys up close one day made me see things differently. If not for that trip, I wouldn't know what it's like to see them living their lives in person, traveling with their young in the canopies, calling out to each other, and likely saying how crazy we tourists with cameras were. It was so pure, honest, and real.
Seeing animals in captivity just doesn't compare. The whole experience seems sad and voyeuristic. They have no choice than to have their lives on display and they can't fully live them without their true habitats.
I hope someday soon humans will find a way to just let them live. Stop creating more shopping centers and houses no one can afford and think long term. Learn to appreciate the ecosystem and where we all stand with the animals. We can't live without them. They show us true beauty, how to live without care and within our means, they teach us about ourselves and what's really important in life.
Whether Harambe was helping the boy and generally treating him as he would a baby monkey or if he had bad intentions is unknown and no longer open to discussion since he's gone. But going forward, I hope his death encourages more awareness of the dangers of captivity, of watching our kids closely and teaching them to respect boundaries (though I know even the most responsible of parents can't see everything - no one is omniscient), taking trips to see animals in the wild, and becoming more aware and appreciative of the beauty in our own backyards. Empathy and awareness begins at home.
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