PALM HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) – Debbie Cobb has a lifetime of knowledge when it comes to primates. She has a passion for them.

In fact, the reason Cobb’s love for them runs so deep is she was raised alongside them. Her first playmate at age 5 was a baby gorilla. Cobb’s grandparents founded what is now known as the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, where rescued animals are loved, cared for and rehabilitated.

It’s a fascinating world that few people live in, but for this mother of two, it’s a world people need to learn about and appreciate. So, when Cobb saw video from the Cincinnati Zoo, she said she knew exactly what was going on in the mind of Harambe the gorilla.

Harambe was shot and killed after a 4-year-old boy entered his enclosure. The death has prompted outrage, though officials defended their response.READ MORE: Anger, grief follow killing of zoo gorilla after boy fell into enclosure

“I can tell you what you saw in the video footage is actually a gorilla taking a stance protecting trying to protect the baby when he heard all the screaming up above,” Cobb told News Channel 8. “If he wanted to hurt the baby, he would have done that in the first few minutes.”

Cobb watched this video carefully and translated the primate’s actions when interacting with the little boy. For instance, when the gorilla was standing over the child, it was a parental stance, she said.

“They’ll put their shoulders up, and you’ll see the hair. They’ll actually make their hair  on their head stand up,” Cobb explained. “That means they’re on guard. What’s going on? Something’s wrong.”

At one point the gorilla drags the child through the water. Cobb maintains that this is how gorillas play in the wild.READ MORE: Ohio zoo closes gorilla exhibit for now after boy falls in

“He didn’t pull him by his hair or by his neck. He knew good and well that was attached to the child and he intentionally grabbed his pants to take him with him. That’s not an animal trying to hurt or kill anything,” she said.

Cobb said she’s devastated the endangered animal was put down in the end.

“That’s hard for me,” she said through tears.

As a mom, she knows how terrified the child’s mother was. But, as a specialist who rescues and cares deeply for primates, her heart is ultimately broken.

“This is so sad. I’m starting a school here at the sanctuary. I want to inspire young people to care for animals,” she said.

Meanwhile, NBC News reports more than 150,000 signed a Change.org petition saying the 3-year-old’s mom should face charges. However, police say that won’t be the case. They described the situation as an unfortunate accident.

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