Cincinnati Zoo has deleted its social media accounts after being inundated with people making jokes and memes about its controversial decision to shoot dead gorilla Harambe.

The 17-year-old western Iowland silverback was shot with a rifle when three-year-old Isiah Dickerson entered its enclosure in May.

The incident sparked a backlash around the world - against both the zoo's actions and the apparent negligence of family members who failed to stop the boy.

After the initial outpouring of anger which saw more than 500,000 sign the 'Justice for Harambe' petition, the gorilla has become a favorite subject of jokers, satirists and campaigners.

Campaigners have nominated Harambe for president and called for him to be put on a dollar or carved into Mount Rushmore.

Scroll down for video

Staff killed Harambe in May after he grabbed a three-year-old boy who got into his enclosure. Since then he has become a favourite subject of jokers, satirists and campaigners

Cincinnati Zoo had called for an end to the endless stream of internet jokes about the incident.

It said staff were 'not amused' by the memes, which were preventing them from moving on from the tragedy.

But when that failed, the zoo deactivated its Twitter and Facebook accounts to try and stop the abuse.

Zoo director Thane Maynard said: 'We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe.

'Our zoo family is still healing, and the constant mention of Harambe makes moving forward more difficult for us.

'We are honoring Harambe by redoubling our gorilla conservation efforts and encouraging others to join us.'

Cincinnati Zoo reopened its Gorilla World exhibit in June with a higher barrier in an attempt to prevent any more accidents.

Cincinnati Zoo, in Ohio, says it is 'not amused' by the memes about Harambe

Mr Maynard's personal Twitter account was hacked on Saturday by someone who posted a number of popular Harambe-themed hashtags, including #JusticeFor Harambe and #D***sOutForHarambe.

The alleged hacker said he did it because he 'was kinda angry at the dude who shot him' and replaced Maynard's profile picture with one of Harambe.

Elsewhere the gorilla has appeared in tongue-in-cheek petitions to rename the hometown Cincinnati Bengals and to add his face to the Lincoln Memorial.

Other petitions want a Harambe emoji, a Harambe character in Pokemon Go and to clone him.

He has grown angel wings and halo of a god in other social media memorials.

He has surfaced in rewritten song lyrics, comedians' acts, at sports events and in rap songs.

A poll in Texas suggested he would get 2 per cent of the popular vote in the US presidential race.

Some Twitter users routinely add the hashtag #RIPHarambe to posts that have nothing to do with him.

The initial outpouring of grief and anger has been replaced by numerous memes and jokes

WCPO-TV web editor James Leggate recently declared enough was enough, by starting an online petition to end the Harambe online petitions.

He wrote: 'At first, the petitioners had good intentions. But then the goofuses of the Internet hopped on the Harambe train for their jollies, and it has gotten out of control.'

Animal rights activist Anthony Seta, who organized a Cincinnati vigil in tribute to Harambe soon after his death, said: 'For the most part, I'm very happy with it. It shows people are remembering what a wonderful being he was.