The White House posts a memorial tribute on social media to Harambe, the western lowland gorilla that was killed in 2016 at the Cincinnati Zoo, marking the 10th anniversary of his death. Multiple outlets report that the post refers to Harambe as “a true patriot” and describes him using language such as a symbol of loyalty and part of American culture or internet history. The tribute arrives nearly a decade after the incident that made Harambe a global online topic and internet meme.
All sources link the commemoration to the same underlying event: in May 2016, a three-year-old boy entered an area near or within Harambe’s enclosure after reaching past a barrier, and the child fell roughly several feet into the habitat. Harambe is then shot by zoo staff. Some coverage notes details including the gorilla’s weight and that he spent more than 10 minutes inside the enclosure before being killed.
The White House’s wording and tone prompt criticism and commentary in media coverage, but the core facts—an online social-media tribute for the 10th anniversary and the description of Harambe’s death—are consistent across outlets.
