Primatologists have analyzed the footage of Harambe’s interactions with the child, noting that gorillas often show curiosity and protective behavior towards young ones, whether gorilla or human. Some believe Harambe’s actions were misinterpreted as aggressive when they may have been an attempt to protect the child. This incident has led to discussions on how zoos can better design enclosures to prevent such occurrences and whether the use of tranquilizers over lethal force was a viable option.