Gator grabs child at Disney Park in Orlando

[patriciaeclevenger]

This is tragic and I'm keeping the family in my prayers. I'm glad they were able to have a sense of closure since it was reported the child was found. May he rest in peace.

On a similar note, may this be a learning lesson for all of us and especially the areas in Florida where gators are prominent.

[lvstephanie]

This was a completely different incident than the child with the gorilla.  In that story, the parents ALLOWED the child to get into the gorilla area and an endangered animal was killed. 

The Alligator story was a tragic and freak accident.  I understand the father fought to save his son and lost the fight.  What an absolute nightmare for this family.

Completely different, I agree... At the zoo, the child ran away from his mother, who had already told him "no", in order to get into an area that was off limits; in the gator attack, the parents led the child into an area that was off limits. At the zoo, one animal was killed in order to protect the child's life; in Florida, numerous gators were killed in order to search for the body of the supposed dead child. And the gator used to be considered endangered but has since then been lowered to "least concerned" status, meaning that concern should still be taken in trying to conserve the species, but that it shouldn't be a high priority. And of course at the zoo, the family was African American but in Florida, the family was Caucasian. Perhaps racism is the reason why the parents were shamed in the first incident but not in the second.... (note that I'm not saying sherryinutah is racist, but rather looking at the US as a whole, and the difference in reactions)

[monnee]

I see a law suit coming because there was only a sign that said no swimming, but no signs warning of gators in the water.

[12amos]

This is so sad.  I feel for all involved....