The White House has posted a tribute on social media marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Harambe, a western lowland gorilla shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo in 2016. The post, published on what would have been the gorilla's 27th birthday, 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 killed on 28 May 2016 after a three-year-old boy, Isaiah Dickerson, entered his enclosure. The child climbed a fence, crawled through a hedge, and fell 15 feet into the moat where Harambe and other gorillas were housed. Video footage showed the gorilla pulling the boy through water; the child sustained only minor injuries. Zoo security staff shot Harambe, prompting widespread public outcry and viral internet memes.
The White House's 123-word post, released on Wednesday evening, evoked the aftermath of the incident. It stated: 'He became a symbol of loyalty, strength, chaos, unity, and the strange beauty of the internet bringing millions of people together for one cause: never forgetting Harambe.' The post added: 'Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on. Gone, but never forgotten. Rest easy to a true patriot.'
The tribute drew attention for its length and tone, particularly as the White House remained silent on the death of former Vice-President Dick Cheney in November. Harambe was born in captivity at a zoo in Brownsville, Texas, in May 1999. Following the 2016 incident, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump commented that it was 'so beautiful to watch' Harambe with the child, but said he would not criticise zoo staff for their actions.
