CINCINNATI (AP) – An Ohio legislator from Cincinnati says there’s no reason to believe that a new law is needed for such situations as the killing of a zoo gorilla after a small child got into his enclosure.

State Sen. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati, had said earlier he would look into possible legislation providing for fines or criminal charges for negligence resulting in the death of an endangered animal. He says in a statement to The Associated Press he has concluded that existing state laws are adequate.

Online petitioners have called for new legislation.

Thomas adds that he understands “that emotions are high after the tragic event” at the zoo Saturday. He says zoo officials made “a difficult decision to save the life of a child.”