Ten years after his death, Harambe the gorilla has received an unexpected tribute from the White House. The post, marking the 10th anniversary of the animal's killing, described him as a 'true patriot' and 'an icon that became part of internet history, American culture, and an entire generation's timeline'.
Harambe was shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio on May 28, 2016, after a four-year-old boy climbed into his enclosure. The incident sparked global outrage, with some witnesses claiming the gorilla was acting protectively. The child's parents, Michelle Gregg and Deonne Dickerson, received death threats following the killing.
Despite the controversy, animal experts defended the zoo's decision to shoot rather than tranquilise the animal. Jerry Stones, who raised Harambe from birth, described losing him as 'like losing a member of the family', though he acknowledged the child was in danger.
Harambe remains a pop culture icon a decade on, with candle vigils held as far away as London's Hyde Park. The White House tribute concluded: 'Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on.'
