Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Harambe, a western lowland gorilla who was killed in 2016, and the White House posted a tribute to him on X.
“Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. And somehow, a decade later, his legacy still lives on. Gone, but never forgotten. Rest easy to a true patriot,” the White House said Wednesday.
The 17-year-old gorilla was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo on May 28, 2016, after a 3-year-old boy fell into Harambe’s enclosure. Video of the event went viral, showing the boy being dragged by the gorilla within its enclosure.
The event gained national attention and a massive following, sparking outrage from animal activists who condemned the shooting.
Today, we remember a legend.On this day in history, Harambe would have celebrated another birthday. An icon that became part of internet history, American culture, and an entire generation’s timeline.Tomorrow marks 10 years since we lost him. Ten years since the moment the… pic.twitter.com/8kfaiuY5zy— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 27, 2026
