What Is Harambe's Dead Body? Harambe Was a 17-Year-Old Male Gorilla Who Lived at the Cincinnati Zoo. on May 28, 2016, a Three-Year-Old Boy Climbed into Harambe's Enclosure. Zoo Officials Shot and Killed Harambe to Protect the Boy. Harambe's Death Sparked a National Debate About the Ethics of Keeping Animals in Captivity and the Safety of Zoo Visitors.