Harambe may have died, but the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla seems set to live on forever through internet memes.
The most popular animal since Cecil the Lion (in fact, he may have surpassed him in popularity) has been commemorated in a number of weird and wonderful ways since he was shot dead after a child fell into his enclosure.
There were suggestions at the time that Harambe had been trying to protect the child, and his death has prompted memes and tributes aplenty.
https://twitter.com/lukeoneil47/status/738776491060645888
Calls have come for Harambe to be turned into a Pokemon, while golf’s PGA Tour Championship was interrupted by a group of hecklers (or maybe just one very active Harambe loyalist) calling out the silverback’s name on several occasions.
The world of golf doesn’t seem like the natural home of such tributes, but now it seems the fans aren’t the only ones making their voices heard.
American pro Smylie Kaufman, who finished in the top 30 at this year’s Masters, is currently playing in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts, and has paid tribute to the brave ape with a customised pitching wedge.
It's official. @SmylieKaufman10 has brought the Harambe meme to the PGA Tour: https://t.co/t23S2fEhPH pic.twitter.com/nyG1fep2Rf
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 29, 2016
It is a wonderful tribute to an animal who touched many hearts in life and in death, but some fans are a little upset to see the Golf Channel reduce him to a mere meme.
https://twitter.com/mclane94/status/772123731099578368
https://twitter.com/mcastiIIo_/status/772184178599137280
https://twitter.com/Itz_Bradlee/status/772130074971611137
But that’s not all. The caption with which he shared a photo of the club was ‘inside job’, alluding to this growing conspiracy theory involving former US President George W Bush.
Smylie Kaufman getting RIP Harambe stamped on his wedge is the greatest thing ive ever seen😂😂 pic.twitter.com/NvASIbSsm1
— Nick Kerstetter (@N_Kerstetter14) August 29, 2016
Stay woke, people.
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