The video will start in 8 Cancel

News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Harambe the gorilla will live on through his son or daughter after scientists harvested his semen soon after he died from a gunshot wound.

Staff shot the endangered gorilla to save a four-year-old boy who fell into the enclosure.

After the gorilla was killed, reproductive biologists from the zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife collected genetic samples.

The centre conducts research into artificial insemination and frozen sperm - raising the possibility that Harambe could live on through his offspring. Aged just 17, the animal had not yet reached breeding maturity.

“There’s a future," Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden director Thane Maynard told Cincinatti.com .

"It’s not the end of his gene pool."

Meanwhile, heartbreaking news has emerged that the pair of female gorillas who shared an enclosure with Harambe have been trying to find him since his body was taken away.

(Image: ViralHog)

(Image: Cincinnati Zoo)

CBS reported that the confused animals have been seen fruitlessly searching the enclosure.

The director of a zoo defended his staff's decision to kill the gorilla.

The death of a 17-year-old Western lowland silverback named Harambe has outraged animal lovers, about 20 of whom staged a vigil outside the zoo.

Read more:

(Image: Cincinnati Zoo)

Thane Maynard, the zoo's director, stood by the decision to shoot the gorilla after he dragged the boy around by the ankle.

He said the ape was not simply endangering the child but actually hurting him.

"Looking back, we would make the same decision," he said.

"The gorilla was clearly agitated. The gorilla was clearly disoriented," said Maynard, while lamenting the loss of "an incredibly magnificent animal."

He also denied claims the zoo has been negligent.

(Image: Reuters)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"The barriers are safe. The barriers exceed any required protocols,"Maynard said at a news conference about the incident on Saturday.

"The trouble with barriers is that whatever the barrier some people can get past it.. No, the zoo is not negligent," he said.

The zoo received thousands of messages of sympathy and support from around the world, he said.

But Ian Redmond, Chairman of The Gorilla Organization, said keepers had other options besides a fatal shot.

He told CNN: “When gorilla or other apes have things they shouldn’t have, keepers will negotiate with them, bring food, their favourite treats, pineapple or some kind of fruit that they don’t know.

(Image: ViralHog)

Read more:Adopted father who raised endangered gorilla Harambe since birth 'heartbroken'

(Image: Cincinnati Zoo/Reuters)

(Image: Facebook)

“I don’t know if that was tried or people thought there was too much danger but it does seem very unfortunate that a lethal shot was required.”

More than 200,000 people signed online petitions on Change.org to protest the shooting,

some demanding "Justice for Harambe" and urging police to hold the child's parents accountable.

Maynard faced a series of questions about how a 4-year-old was able to climb the barrier and through the bushes and reach the 15-foot drop into the water surrounding the enclosure.

The exhibit met standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which conduct regular inspections, Maynard said.

He said zookeepers would review the barrier but he made no promise to redesign it.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

The zoo association's 2016 accreditation standards, published on its website, said "some means of deterring public contact with animals (e.g., guardrails/barriers) must be in

place."

"Insufficient barrier fencing" is listed as one risk to visitors.

Animal lovers turned their anger toward the parents while mourning the death of the gorilla, lighting candles and holding "Rest in Peace" signs at the vigil.

"That child's life was in danger. At the end of the day, it falls on the parents. No one else," said Vanessa Hammonds, 27, who said she flew in from Houston to attend the vigil.

Authorities have not identified the boy.

(Image: @CincinnatiZoo/Twitter) (Image: cincinnatizoo.org)

Michelle Gregg, who identified herself on Facebook as his mother, asked others not to judge her because "accidents happen."

She said her son was recovering from a concussion and a few scrapes.

A family statement on Sunday expressed condolences for the animal's death.

(Image: change.org)

"We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff," the statement said.

"We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are

grieving the loss of their gorilla."