Harambe Forever in Our Hearts 2016 Pin

On May 28, 2016, a three-year-old boy climbed into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, where he was grabbed by Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla. Fearing for the child’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. A number of 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.