When Did Harambe Die
Harambe, a western lowland gorilla, died on May 28, 2016, at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. He was a male gorilla born in 1999 at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas and later transferred to Cincinnati.
What Happened on the Day He Died
On May 28, 2016, a child fell into the gorilla enclosure. Zoo officials decided to shoot Harambe to protect the child. The incident was captured on video and shared widely, prompting public discussion about zoo safety and animal welfare.
Legacy and Context
After Harambe’s death, the zoo reviewed its safety procedures and reinforced barriers and protocols around large-animal exhibits. The incident also contributed to broader conversations about western lowland gorilla conservation, a species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. More background is available on the Cincinnati Zoo official site Cincinnati Zoo.
