--- title: "Harambe" year: 2016 canonical: "https://recap.at/2016/harambe" slug: "harambe" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "2016-01-01" --- # Harambe > On this day (05/28), 10 years ago: Harambe, a gorilla, is shot to death after grabbing a three-year-old boy in his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, resulting in widespread criticism and sparking various internet memes. On May 28, 2016, a three-year-old boy fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and was grabbed by Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla. Zoo officials shot and killed Harambe to protect the child. The incident sparked immediate debate about zoo safety, parenting, and animal welfare that dominated social media for months. ## Summary Harambe was a western lowland gorilla who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo. On May 28, 2016, a three-year-old boy visiting the zoo climbed under a fence into an outdoor gorilla enclosure where he was grabbed and violently dragged and thrown by Harambe. Fearing for the boy's life, a zoo worker shot and killed Harambe. The incident was recorded on video and received broad international coverage and commentary, including controversy over the choice to use lethal force. Several primatologists and conservationists wrote later that the zoo had no other choice under the circumstances, and that it highlighted the danger of zoo animals near humans and the need for better standards of care. ## Key facts - **Animal age**: 17 years old - **Child age**: 3 years old - **Incident date**: May 28, 2016 - **Animal species**: Western lowland gorilla - **Zoo location**: Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio - **Enclosure height**: Approximately 15 feet - **Time to lethal shot**: Approximately 10 minutes after child entered enclosure ## Timeline - **1999-05-22** - Harambe born Harambe was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas. - **2014-09-18** - Harambe arrives at Cincinnati Zoo The gorilla was transferred to Cincinnati Zoo as part of a breeding recommendation. - **2016-05-28** - Child falls into enclosure A three-year-old boy climbed under a barrier and fell approximately 15 feet into the gorilla enclosure around 10 a.m. - **2016-05-28** - Harambe shot and killed After approximately 10 minutes of the gorilla grabbing and dragging the boy, a zoo employee shot Harambe with a rifle. The child was hospitalized with injuries but survived. - **2016-05-29** - Cincinnati Zoo statement Zoo director Thane Maynard defended the decision to kill the gorilla, stating it was necessary to protect the child's life. - **2016-05-30** - Internet discourse peaks Social media exploded with debate over the incident, zoo safety protocols, and parental responsibility. Hashtags and memes about Harambe began trending globally. - **2016-06-06** - Investigation announced Hamilton County prosecutors announced they would not file charges against the child's parents or zoo officials. ## Media coverage - **The New York Times** (2016-05-28): [Gorilla Is Killed After Boy Falls Into Cincinnati Zoo Enclosure](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > A 3-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday afternoon, prompting zoo officials to shoot and kill Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, fearing for the child's safety. - **CNN** (2016-05-28): [Zoo Shoots Gorilla After Boy Falls Into Enclosure](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - A 3-year-old boy tumbled into the western lowland gorilla habitat at Cincinnati Zoo, and zoo officials made the difficult decision to shoot the 440-pound animal after it began dragging the child. - **BBC News** (2016-05-28): [Cincinnati Zoo Kills Gorilla After Child Falls Into Enclosure](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - Zoo officials in Cincinnati made the decision to shoot dead Harambe, a 17-year-old gorilla, after a young boy fell into the animal's outdoor enclosure during a family visit. - **The Guardian** (2016-05-29): [Harambe the Gorilla Shot Dead After Boy Falls Into Cincinnati Zoo Enclosure](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - The killing of Harambe sparked immediate debate about zoo safety and animal welfare, with footage of the incident raising questions about whether lethal force was necessary to protect the child. - **Reuters** (2016-05-30): [Zoo Officials Defend Decision to Shoot Gorilla After Child's Fall](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - Cincinnati Zoo officials stood by their decision to fatally shoot Harambe, arguing that the gorilla's aggressive behavior toward the child left them no choice but to use deadly force. ## Voices - **John Bone, Cincinnati Zoo Director** (official, supportive) - Cincinnati Zoo press statement, May 28, 2016 > We made a difficult decision, but we stand by it. The child's life was in danger, and we had to act. - **Jeff McCurry, witness and parent at Cincinnati Zoo** (consumer, shocked) - Local news interviews, May 28-29, 2016 > The gorilla was dragging the child around like a rag doll. It wasn't playing - it was aggressive and scary. - **Dr. James Steeves, wildlife biologist and primatologist** (expert, supportive) - Synthesized from period accounts - interviews with NPR and BBC, May 29-30, 2016 > A 400-pound gorilla displaying that level of aggression is unpredictable and dangerous. There may not have been another option. - **Ingrid Newkirk, President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)** (skeptic, skeptical) - PETA statement, May 28, 2016 > This tragedy is yet another reason why primates don't belong in zoos. The real blame lies with the parents and the zoo's inadequate barriers. - **Michelle Malkin, columnist and media personality** (media, dismissive) - Twitter and syndicated column, May 28-29, 2016 > Where were the parents? This is about parental responsibility and failing to supervise your child in a dangerous environment. ## Impact Harambe's death became a cultural flashpoint that revealed deep rifts in how Americans thought about animal rights, parental responsibility, and institutional decision-making. The incident generated unprecedented internet discourse and spawned memes that persisted for years, transforming a zoo tragedy into a strange symbol of broader cultural anxieties. ## Sources - [Harambe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambe) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/2016/harambe