Beyond Harambe: Redirecting National Fervor

The outpouring of emotion triggered by the recent death of Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla, has me thoroughly bemused.  Although I am delighted by the sudden and intense interest in animal rights, I wonder why it took a publicly broadcast tragedy to elicit such justifiable anger.  What was it about this occurrence that led to a national movement, a call to investigate the mother of the child for neglect, and dozens of experts to speak out?  And how do we find a silver lining in the death of this critically endangered gentle giant?

The general public is undoubtedly upset over the indignity associated with captivity.  As much as we may agree that zoos provide us with priceless insight into the animal kingdom, there must be a more humane way to learn about our kin.  For those of us who recoil at any display of animal cruelty, there is also a deep-seated frustration in the illusion that human existence is somehow more valuable than animal life.  Beyond this, people are unsettled by the new normal: the default to violence and quick to trigger mentality has officially permeated every aspect of our society.

There is no question that killing Harambe was a decision fraught with difficulty.  Although both sides make compelling points, at some point we must agree to disagree and move forward in a constructive manner.  But if ending the life of a loving primate in order to protect an innocent child was a challenging decision, then why not turn our attention to something that is much more straightforward and actually within our control?  The larger lesson here is this: the single biggest threat to gorillas, and all animals for that matter, comes from us.  Instead of focusing on one-off events, why not hone in on our next meal?

As a lifelong vegetarian, a millennial, a cancer doctor, and a public health specialist, this event has me reeling.  Whether we focus on individual health, global sustenance, or animal rights, examining our relationship with animals is a critical next step.  Study after study shows that an overconsumption of animal products is prematurely ending lives and bankrupting our healthcare system through chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer.  It is also no surprise that global livestock production accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than emissions from every form of transportation combined.  Beyond deforestation, climate change, and ballooning obesity rates, global meat production is contributing to antibiotic resistance and outbreaks of zoonotic disease.

Rather than assigning external blame, we must redirect our ire and turn inward in light of this heart-breaking catastrophe.  Instead of wondering what could have been, we should be asking ourselves what we can do.  Scrutinizing personal food choices, being curious about where our meals come from, and choosing a diet that enhances both personal and planetary health is a good place to start.