Mary Bowerman

USA TODAY Network

People on social media collectively lost their minds this week after word spread that a zoo in China named a baby gorilla "Harambe McHarambeface" because of an online poll.

The only problem? The zoo doesn’t appear to have held an online poll or named a baby gorilla after Harambe, the gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo in May. Yup, the story is probably a hoax.

On Twitter, many celebrated the news of the public vote with pledges to legally change their own names and name their first born children "Harambe McHarambeface."

Saturday, the Boston Leader reported that Jinhua Zoo in China's Zhejiang province decided to ask the Internet for help in finding the perfect name for the zoo's newborn gorilla. The Leader reported that a link to the zoo's website was shared on U.S. social media and Internet pranksters voted resoundingly to name the gorilla "Harambe McHarambeface."

The out-of-the-ordinary name seems to be a nod to the British research vessel that Internet users overwhelmingly voted to name ‘Boaty McBoatface" in May. The vessel was named the RRS Sir David Attenborough instead.

And while the Harambe-nod delighted people on social media, The Boston Leader doesn't appear to be a legitimate website. The website doesn't have any content other than the Harambe McHarambeface story. Clicking away from the story brings up a "service temporarily unavailable page."

Cincinnati Zoo deletes Twitter accounts over Harambe memes

According to Whols, the domain name was created four days ago, Buzzfeed reports.

The Daily Mail reached out to Jinhua Zoo, but has not heard back. According to Buzzfeed, the zoo's webpage has not been updated since 2013 and has no reference to the contest or updated the press section in three years.

Harambe, a 17-year-old great ape, was killed by Cincinnati Zoo officials in May after a 3-year-old boy fell into his enclosure. Since then Harambe has been the subject of endless memes on social media.

Just weeks ago, the Cincinnati Zoo's Twitter account was hacked and overloaded with Harambe memes. The zoo's director, Thane Maynard, told the Associated Press, the zoo was fed up with the constant Harambe references.

"We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe," Maynard, zoo director, told AP in an email.

It looks like Harambe pranksters are looking for a last laugh.

Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.