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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 Zoo 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.

UPDATE: Shock new picture shows safety barrier

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And in this latest video from the dramatic scene, Isaiah is seen sat calmly next to the massive animal.

Read more:'Mummy, I want to swim with the gorilla': Boy's last words before plunging into Harambe enclosure

In one moment, the gorilla even appears to wrap his arms around the boy.

(Image: ViralHog)

At one point Isaiah and Harambe even appear to briefly hold hands.

poll loading Were zookeepers right to kill the gorilla? 5000+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

(Image: cincinnatizoo.org)

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 child.

She gave a commentary over the video which you can see below.

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Dr 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.

(Image: ViralHog)

“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.

(Image: ViralHog)

(Image: LJMU.ac.uk)

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.

(Image: Facebook)

(Image: Facebook)

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."

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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Read more: Adopted father who raised endangered gorilla Harambe since birth 'heartbroken' after 'gentle giant' shot dead

"My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the staff at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and the people who witnessed it.

"Also sending prayers for a speedy recovery of the little boy!"

(Image: Facebook)

Mrs Nicely has also claimed that the gorilla was not being aggressive towards the boy.

"I tried to prevent it," she added. "I tried to grab him and I just couldn’t get to him fast enough.

"What the first responders saw, I’m just not sure... They said he was violently throwing the child around, which seems crazy to me.

"They have a picture of the boy sitting in front of the gorilla moments before they shot him."

(Image: Facebook)

The mother of the boy who fell into the enclosure said that "accidents happen" on a Facebook post hitting out at critics.

(Image: Facebook)

"My son is safe and was able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes... no broken bones or internal injuries.

Read more: Adopted father who raised endangered gorilla Harambe 'heartbroken' after 'gentle giant' was shot dead

"As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids.

"Accidents happen but I am thankful that the right people were in the right place today."

Jerry Stones, 74, from Texas, raised 17-year-old Harambe since birth, and described him as a "gentle giant".

Speaking of his reaction to the news, he said: "An old man can cry, too.

Read more: A captive chimp who blinded a woman, a Hollywood orca returned to the wild - SIX animals who inspired emotion

"He was a special guy in my life. Harambe was my heart. It's like losing a member of the family."

“I raised him from a baby, he was a sweet cute little guy. He grew up to be a pretty, beautiful male. He was very intelligent. Very, very intelligent.

"His mind was going constantly. He was just such a sharp character."

The gorilla's former zoo also paid tribute to the animal on Facebook.

Police officers are deciding whether to charge the parents with child neglect.

Read more: Gorilla shooting slammed as 'MURDER' as Twitter users blame parents for 'losing sight of child' before tragedy

Animal lovers are outraged after the endangered animal had to be shot dead by zoo staff to protect the youngster.

More than 70,000 petitioners have signed up to a campaign on Change.org calling for the parents to be investigated after the child fell up to 12 feet into the enclosure.

(Image: Facebook)

And fury at Cincinnati Zoo continues to mount as animal lovers demand an explanation as to why the 17-year-old gorilla named Herambe was not tranquilised.

(Image: Facebook)

Eyewitnesses have even claimed that the animal was NOT hurting the child... and was in fact trying to protect it but was panicked by the screams of onlookers.

Read more: Justice for Harambe: Gorilla shooting leads to Facebook rage with petition calling for 'those responsible' to be charged

The petition reads: "This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy's parents did not keep a closer watch on the child. We the undersigned believe that the child would not have been able to enter the enclosure under proper parental supervision.

"Witnesses claim that they heard the child state that he wished to go into the enclosure and was actively trying to breach the barriers.

Read more: Gorilla shooting: Animal experts DEFEND zoo's decision to shoot Harambe after he grabbed boy, 4

"This should have prompted the parents to immediately remove the child from the vicinity. It is believed that the situation was caused by parental negligence and the zoo is not responsible for the child's injuries and possible trauma.

(Image: change.org)

"We the undersigned want the parents to be held accountable for the lack of supervision and negligence that caused Harambe to lose his life."

Read more: Gorilla shot dead mirrors incident when animal PROTECTED boy who fell into enclosure

(Image: @CincinnatiZoo/Twitter)

"Please sign this petition to encourage the Cincinnati Zoo, Hamilton County Child Protection Services, and Cincinnati Police Department hold the parents responsible."

And police in Ohio have said that charges could be brought against the parents as their investigation continues.

The child was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre and is said to have sustained no serious injuries.

Social media users have also slammed the zoo for killing the gorilla, despite claims by zoo bosses that the child was in "a life-threatening situation".

Read more: Animal lovers vent fury as endangered gorilla shot dead in zoo after grabbing boy

One user wrote: "Pretty sad that an endangered gorilla was killed today because parents couldn't watch their kid."

Another said: "Today, an endangered gorilla was shot at the Cincy Zoo because a toddler's parents were to damn lazy to watch their child."

Director Thane Maynard said that authorities had no other choice but to put the 400-pound-plus male gorilla down.

He added: "They made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life.

Read more: Terrifying moment four-year-old visiting zoo is grabbed by endangered gorilla who has to be shot dead

"It could have been very bad."

(Image: Reuters)

Zoo bosses claim the child crawled through a barrier before falling into the moat area.

Mr Maynard added that this was the first time that his team had killed a zoo animal in such an emergency situation.

He called it "a very sad day" at the zoo.