Director Thane Maynard says the zoo is ‘still healing’ after the death of the gorilla, who was shot after a boy fell into his enclosure in May

The director of the Cincinnati zoo has pleaded with people to stop making memes and humorous online comments about Harambe, the gorilla that was shot and killed after a child fell into its enclosure, because of the effect upon grieving staff.



Cincinnati zoo director: shooting gorilla to protect child was 'right decision' Read more

“Our zoo family is still healing,” Thane Maynard said on Monday.

Online interest in Harambe has flowered since May, when the 17-year-old male western lowland gorilla was shot after a three-year-old boy fell into his enclosure after climbing over a barrier that has since been heightened. Fearing the boy could be dragged around and drowned in the moat surrounding Harambe’s home, zoo officials decided to kill the gorilla.

Initial anger toward the parents of the boy prompted an online petition called “Justice for Harambe” that sought to hold the mother responsible for the animal’s death. Flowers were laid at a vigil. Harambe has since been elevated to an internet celebrity and meme, referenced in everything from the US presidential election to the naming of tropical storms and swimming pool slides.

“We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe,” Maynard told the Associated Press. “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 .”

Maynard’s Twitter account was hacked on Saturday by someone who posted a number of popular Harambe-themed hashtags, including #JusticeFor Harambe and #DicksOutForHarambe. The alleged hacker, who said he did it because he “was kinda angry at the dude who shot him”, replaced Maynard’s profile picture with one of Harambe and posted several pictures of the deceased gorilla along with “RIP”.

There appear to be no limits to Harambe’s influence, nor any facet of life across which the late gorilla cannot roam. T-shirts have been created in his honor, a petition has called for the Cincinnati Bengals to be renamed the Cincinnati Harambes and the presidential aspirations of the Green Party’s Jill Stein received a blow after a recent poll showed she was tied with Harambe in Texas.

Such stories have divided conservationists, some supporting increased scrutiny of zoos’ treatment of animals and others feeling the memes show a lack of respect.

Primatologist Frans de Waal told the Guardian: “I don’t think there is anything to joke about, as it was such a tragic event.



“I do feel that the incident raised awareness that we should take seriously the life of an adult gorilla. I think this side of the incident was positive: people paid attention, and may as a result have read comments on the intelligence or lives of gorillas.

“Zoos are perhaps more aware now of the dangers of toddlers climbing into enclosures and parents are perhaps more aware of keeping their children close, but other than that I doubt this incident will produce profound change.”

Ashley Byrne, an associate director at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), told the AP that most people posting online about Harambe did so out of empathy for the animal, rather than a desire to make light of the death.

“This tragic incident really did start a new conversation,” she said. “Most people who saw the video came away with a great degree of empathy for animals forced to live in captivity.”