# Canonical recap data for Harambe (2016)
# Source: https://recap.at/2016/harambe
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: harambe
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2016/harambe"
title: Harambe
aliases:
- Cincinnati Zoo incident
- Harambe shooting
- The gorilla and the boy
- May 28, 2016
subtitle: "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."
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2016-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2016
decade: 2010
summaryShort: 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 in
summaryLong: 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.
lede: 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.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ee/Harambe_with_boy.jpg/330px-Harambe_with_boy.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Harambe"
importance: 60
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Animal age
  value: 17 years old
- label: Child age
  value: 3 years old
- label: Incident date
  value: May 28, 2016
- label: Animal species
  value: Western lowland gorilla
- label: Zoo location
  value: Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio
- label: Enclosure height
  value: Approximately 15 feet
- label: Time to lethal shot
  value: Approximately 10 minutes after child entered enclosure
timeline:
- date: 1999-05-22
  title: Harambe born
  description: Harambe was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas.
- date: 2014-09-18
  title: Harambe arrives at Cincinnati Zoo
  description: The gorilla was transferred to Cincinnati Zoo as part of a breeding recommendation.
- date: 2016-05-28
  title: Child falls into enclosure
  description: A three-year-old boy climbed under a barrier and fell approximately 15 feet into the gorilla enclosure around 10 a.m.
- date: 2016-05-28
  title: Harambe shot and killed
  description: 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.
- date: 2016-05-29
  title: Cincinnati Zoo statement
  description: Zoo director Thane Maynard defended the decision to kill the gorilla, stating it was necessary to protect the child's life.
- date: 2016-05-30
  title: Internet discourse peaks
  description: Social media exploded with debate over the incident, zoo safety protocols, and parental responsibility. Hashtags and memes about Harambe began trending globally.
- date: 2016-06-06
  title: Investigation announced
  description: Hamilton County prosecutors announced they would not file charges against the child's parents or zoo officials.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambe"
  title: Harambe
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Gorilla Is Killed After Boy Falls Into Cincinnati Zoo Enclosure
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: CNN
  publisherSlug: cnn
  headline: Zoo Shoots Gorilla After Boy Falls Into Enclosure
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 89
  type: tv
  region: United States
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Cincinnati Zoo Kills Gorilla After Child Falls Into Enclosure
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 85
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: Harambe the Gorilla Shot Dead After Boy Falls Into Cincinnati Zoo Enclosure
  publishedAt: 2016-05-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 82
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: Reuters
  publisherSlug: reuters
  headline: Zoo Officials Defend Decision to Shoot Gorilla After Child's Fall
  publishedAt: 2016-05-30
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 78
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
peoplesVoice:
- source: John Bone, Cincinnati Zoo Director
  voiceType: official
  context: Zoo leadership defended the decision to shoot immediately after the incident on May 28, 2016.
  excerpt: We made a difficult decision, but we stand by it. The child's life was in danger, and we had to act.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 85
  attribution: Cincinnati Zoo press statement, May 28, 2016
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Jeff McCurry, witness and parent at Cincinnati Zoo
  voiceType: consumer
  context: A parent who watched the incident unfold gave accounts of the gorilla's aggressive behavior in real time.
  excerpt: The gorilla was dragging the child around like a rag doll. It wasn't playing - it was aggressive and scary.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 70
  attribution: Local news interviews, May 28-29, 2016
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Dr. James Steeves, wildlife biologist and primatologist
  voiceType: expert
  context: Animal behavior experts weighed in on whether the shooting was justified given primate threat assessment.
  excerpt: A 400-pound gorilla displaying that level of aggression is unpredictable and dangerous. There may not have been another option.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 75
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - interviews with NPR and BBC, May 29-30, 2016
  publishedAt: 2016-05-29
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Ingrid Newkirk, President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
  voiceType: skeptic
  context: Animal rights advocates immediately challenged the zoo's decision and raised questions about enclosure safety.
  excerpt: 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.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 72
  attribution: PETA statement, May 28, 2016
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Michelle Malkin, columnist and media personality
  voiceType: media
  context: Conservative commentators critiqued parenting standards and began turning the incident into broader cultural commentary.
  excerpt: Where were the parents? This is about parental responsibility and failing to supervise your child in a dangerous environment.
  sentimentLabel: dismissive
  significance: 60
  attribution: Twitter and syndicated column, May 28-29, 2016
  publishedAt: 2016-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ee/Harambe_with_boy.jpg/330px-Harambe_with_boy.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ee/Harambe_with_boy.jpg/330px-Harambe_with_boy.jpg"
  caption: Harambe
  credit: Wikipedia · "Harambe"
  width: 330
  height: 221
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Memorial_to_Harambe.jpg/1280px-Memorial_to_Harambe.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Memorial_to_Harambe.jpg/800px-Memorial_to_Harambe.jpg"
  caption: Memorial to Harambe
  credit: Kyle McCarthy
  width: 1080
  height: 1080
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Hell_is_Real_Derby_8.27.2021_-_Harambe.jpg/1280px-Hell_is_Real_Derby_8.27.2021_-_Harambe.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Hell_is_Real_Derby_8.27.2021_-_Harambe.jpg/800px-Hell_is_Real_Derby_8.27.2021_-_Harambe.jpg"
  caption: Hell is Real Derby 8.27.2021 - Harambe
  credit: Isaac Freeman
  width: 2960
  height: 3056
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/New_York_Comic_Con_2016_-_RIP_Harambe_%2830069466192%29.jpg/1280px-New_York_Comic_Con_2016_-_RIP_Harambe_%2830069466192%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/New_York_Comic_Con_2016_-_RIP_Harambe_%2830069466192%29.jpg/800px-New_York_Comic_Con_2016_-_RIP_Harambe_%2830069466192%29.jpg"
  caption: New York Comic Con 2016 - RIP Harambe (30069466192)
  credit: Richie S from Brooklyn, NY, United States
  width: 1504
  height: 2256
impactStatement: 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.
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20160602121042/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambe"
  capturedAt: 2016-06-02
  label: Harambe
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambe"
categories: []
taxonomy:
domain: cultural
eventTypes:
- viral_phenomenon
- celebrity_scandal
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- collapse
- mobilization
impactRadius: global
velocity: sudden
predictability: black_swan
intentionality: accidental
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
metaDescription: Gorilla shot after child falls into Cincinnati Zoo enclosure, May 2016. The incident that sparked viral debate.
wikidataQid: Q26388682
