Latest news with #Harambe
News18
3 days ago
- News18
From Tragedy To Internet Icon, The Incredible Story Of Harambe The Gorilla
Last Updated: Harambe's story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding wildlife captivity and human responsibility. On the afternoon of May 28, 2016, a three-year-old kid visiting the Cincinnati Zoo with his family climbed over a public barrier and fell into the moat that surrounds the Gorilla World exhibit. Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla weighing 400 pounds, lived in the enclosure. The aftermath of this human coming face to face with the wildlife became a poignant and unforgotten chapter in our meme culture that is still fresh in the minds of the folks on the Internet. What Happened After That Upon falling roughly 15 feet into the moat, the child was approached by Harambe. Video footage captured by bystanders shows Harambe standing near the boy and then grabbing and dragging him through the water. At one point, Harambe appeared to hold the boy upright, which some interpreted as protective behaviour, though it also involved moments of rough handling. The scene was distressing, with onlookers shouting, some recording video, and others pleading for help. The zoo's animal response team quickly arrived on the scene. While Harambe did not appear to be overly aggressive in all of his actions, zoo officials described his behaviour as 'agitated" and unpredictable. There were growing concerns that the gorilla could unintentionally harm or kill the child due to his sheer size and strength, even if Harambe meant no harm. Tranquilizing Harambe was ruled out by zoo staff, as they feared the sedative wouldn't take effect immediately, and could further agitate the animal. Given the potential danger to the child's life, the decision was made to fatally shoot Harambe with a rifle. The child was then safely retrieved by zoo personnel and taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including scrapes and bruises. After The Incident The incident triggered a firestorm of public opinion. Some blamed the zoo for inadequate safety measures, while others criticised the boy's parents for not supervising their child more closely. An investigation by authorities cleared both the zoo and the boy's parents of wrongdoing, citing it as a tragic accident. While the child survived with only minor injuries, the shooting of Harambe sparked global outrage, ignited debates on animal captivity, and made Harambe a viral symbol of both genuine concern and internet satire. The Rise of the Harambe Meme After Harambe's death, the internet transformed the gorilla into a viral meme. The hashtag #RIPHarambe trended widely, and satirical campaigns emerged. Harambe's name was humorously suggested in various online polls, such as naming a baby gorilla 'Harambe McHarambeface." (X / Screengrab) The Cincinnati Zoo, overwhelmed by the meme's persistence, temporarily deleted its Twitter account due to constant mentions, as per reports. Harambe's image became a symbol of internet culture, blending satire and commentary. The meme culture surrounding Harambe highlighted the internet's role in shaping public discourse and collective memory. Harambe's Enduring Legacy Harambe's death led to increased scrutiny of zoo practices and discussions about human-animal interactions. The Cincinnati Zoo faced both criticism and support, while Harambe's story reportedly inspired songs, artworks, and even a statue on Wall Street. The incident remains a reference point in debates about wildlife conservation and the ethical treatment of animals. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 29, 2025, 17:36 IST
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Trump's favorite verbal tic is now 1,000 pages of legislation
The verbal tic of President Donald Trump that has always most fascinated me is his predilection for the word 'beautiful.' North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un 'wrote me beautiful letters and we fell in love.' On the cover of Time magazine, Kamala Harris looked 'like the most beautiful actress ever to live' (this quickly devolved into an anti-compliment). On Trump's first day back in office, he signed an executive order titled 'Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.' Golf courses are beautiful, but so are White House telephones, farming, fighter jets, notes from the Chinese president, chocolate cake, the Supreme Court, Harambe the gorilla and Christians. Do you know who doesn't need 30 dolls? 'A beautiful baby girl that's 11 years old.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boy Fell into Beloved Gorilla's Enclosure and a Quick Decision Was Made to Shoot the Animal. Then Drama Really Began
On the ninth anniversary of Harambe the gorilla's death, PEOPLE is looking back at the chaotic incident and the nationwide reaction sparked in its aftermath. Harambe was shot in May 2016 after he started dragging a young boy who fell into his enclosure An Ohio prosecutor decided in June 2016 not to charge the boy's mother in connection with the incidentA Saturday at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2016 quickly turned into chaos when a three-year-old-boy slipped into a gorilla enclosure and a 450-lb. ape began dragging him. To save the boy's life, zoo authorities made a quick decision to shoot the primate. The entire incident played out in a matter of minutes, but then took on a life of its own. On the ninth anniversary of Harambe the gorilla's death, PEOPLE is looking back at the chaotic incident and the nationwide reaction sparked in its aftermath. On May 28, 2016, the boy "climbed through a public barrier at Gorilla World and dropped fifteen feet into the exhibit's moat," the zoo explained in a statement at the time, noting that according to a Cincinnati Fire Department report, the gorilla then began "dragging and throwing the child." "Minutes later, the Zoo's Dangerous Animal Response Team arrived and made the difficult decision to put the gorilla down to save the child," the zoo continued, noting that the boy was then removed from the exhibit and taken to the hospital before being released that night. 'We are heartbroken about losing Harambe, but a child's life was in danger and a quick decision had to be made by our Dangerous Animal Response Team,' added Zoo Director Thane Maynard. 'Our first response was to call the gorillas out of the exhibit. The two females complied, but Harambe did not." Maynard went on to explain that since the child was still in the exhibit with Harambe, tranquilizing the gorilla "was not an option" as it would take minutes for the gorilla to feel the effects, during which time the child would remain in "imminent danger." "On top of that, the impact from the dart could agitate the animal and cause the situation to get much worse," added Maynard. However, in the days to come, zoo officials faced mounting criticism for not trying to tranquilize the 17-year-old Western lowland silverback before using lethal force. Still, Maynard argued that time was of the essence to protect the child. 'The idea of waiting and shooting it with a hypodermic was not a good idea,' Maynard said at a press conference two days after the incident. 'The risk was due to the power of that animal." The boy's mother was also scrutinized, eventually responding to backlash from those who said she hadn't been paying enough attention to her son. 'My son is safe and was able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes… no broken bones or internal injuries," Michelle Gregg wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post. 'As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids. Accidents happen." The family went on to urge those who wanted to help to consider making a donation to the zoo in Harambe's name. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Nevertheless, the internet persisted, and a petition called Justice for Harambe — which has since been closed — encouraged authorities to 'hold the parents responsible.' 'This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy's parents did not keep a closer watch on the child. We the undersigned believe that the child would not have been able to enter the enclosure under proper parental supervision,' it read. Ultimately, in early June 2016, an Ohio prosecutor announced Gregg would not face charges in connection with the incident. Harambe moved to the Cincinnati Zoo in 2014 after being born and raised in captivity at a zoo in Brownsville, Texas. In Ohio, zoo officials had hoped to breed him as his species is critically endangered. Jerry Stones, the zookeeper who helped raise him, said the loss felt like one of his own relatives had died. 'It tore me up, I was very close to him,' Stones said to ABC News. 'He showed a positive attitude as far as leadership. He nurtured his siblings. He would carry them around. That was one of the reasons I pushed for him to go to Cincinnati, so that he could have a family.' In the aftermath of his death, Harambe found eternal life as a meme – although not everybody got a laugh from them. 'We are not amused by the memes, petitions and signs about Harambe,' Maynard told the Associated Press back in 2016. '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." Still, the legacy of Harambe still lives on. Read the original article on People
Express Tribune
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Cheeto shaped like Pokémon Charizard sells for $88K at auction
Listen to article A 3-inch Flamin' Hot Cheeto shaped like Charizard sold for $87,840 at an auction on Sunday. The final bid, which was initially $72,000, was boosted by a buyer's premium, bringing the total to $87,840. The Cheeto, which went up for auction on February 10 with an initial price of $250, was discovered by Georgia-based collectibles store, 1st and Goal Collectibles, sometime between 2018 and 2022. A representative from Goldin told Polygon that the Cheeto was not intentionally modified to resemble Charizard but was found in its natural shape. The Cheeto went viral in 2024 after it was rediscovered by the store's workers while going through a safe. The company then upgraded its enclosure to preserve the Cheeto and added a custom nameplate inspired by Pokémon cards. Eventually, it was auctioned off at the Goldin auction house. Despite the hefty price tag, the Pokémon-shaped Cheeto does not hold the title for the highest-selling Cheeto. In 2017, a Flamin' Hot Cheeto in the shape of the late gorilla Harambe sold for $99,900, although the legitimacy of the sale is unclear, as the seller claimed the winning bidder backed out. While there may not be many collectors specifically searching for Cheetos with unique shapes, the market clearly exists. Frito-Lay previously ran a Cheetos Museum to showcase uniquely shaped snacks and awarded $150,000 in prize money for the top 10 Cheeto shapes submitted by the public. Now, collectors are turning to auction houses and online platforms like eBay to find the next snack sensation.
CNN
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Pokémon-shaped Cheeto sells for nearly $90,000
There's a new contender for the world's most expensive crunchy snack. A Pokémon-shaped Flamin' Hot Cheeto nicknamed 'Cheetozard' has sold for $87,840 to an unnamed buyer, the Goldin auction house said on social media. The 3 inch (7 cm) long Cheeto, shaped like the character Charizard from the Japanese anime franchise, is affixed to a customized Pokémon card and enclosed in a box. The dragon-shaped spicy snack was discovered and preserved by a sports memorabilia company sometime between 2018 and 2022, then surged in popularity on social media last year, according to Goldin's website. Cheetozard sold for a whopping $72,000 plus a buyer's premium, Goldin said. Bidding on the precious Cheeto began at $250 in mid-February and quickly climbed into the upper five figures. Cheetos, the snack brand owned by PepsiCo subsidiary Frito-Lay, responded to Goldin's Instagram post about the sale with a 'two eyes' emoji. CNN has reached out to Goldin and Frito-Lay for comment. Pokémon's Charizard is a large, orange dragon with turquoise wings and a flame at the tip of its tail. Known as Lizardon in Japan, the dragon is one of the franchise's original creatures – and one of its most beloved. In 2020, Charizard was voted one of the top 10 most popular Pokémon, according to the franchise. Social media users flooded the comment section of Goldin's Instagram posts about the sale. Many questioned why someone would spend so much money on a Cheeto, while others wondered how the snack came to be so dragon-esque. 'This is kinda stupid but it's 2025, people doing wild things,' one user said. Another joked that Cheetozard would be their death row meal. This is not the first time a curiously shaped Cheeto has sold for buckets of cash. In 2017, a Cheeto resembling Harambe the gorilla fetched nearly $100,000 on auction site eBay.
