A documentary about Harambe the gorilla, including previously unseen footage, is available to stream in the UK now.
For those who don’t quite remember, Harambe was a 17-year-old silverback gorilla who was shot at the Cincinnati Zoo, after a little boy wandered off and climbed into his enclosure back in 2016.
You can see a trailer for the documentary here:
With zoo staff concerned for the child’s safety, they said they were left with no option but to kill the silverback.
However, somewhat bizarrely, in the wake of his death, Harambe became a viral star and internet sensation with memes of the gorilla spreading like wildfire online, while others questioned the decision to kill him.
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In September last year - to tie in with World Gorilla Day - a new documentary about Harambe was released.
A press release for the documentary - which is titled simply Harambe - explained: “Packed with rare unreleased photos and video of Harambe, the documentary features Narration by Peter Egan, along with exclusive interviews by Will Travers OBE and Dame Virginia McKenna of Born Free Foundation, wildlife expert Ian Redmond OBE, TMZ and Hollywood Raw podcast host Dax Holt, Dan Van Coppenolle [the man who named Harambe], and Jeff McCurry, Harambe’s personal photographer whose photo of Harambe went viral that became an iconic meme.
“This documentary offers insight and brings new information that has not been previously known about this tragedy.
“Using modern scientific research and understanding, the movie takes a closer look into the troubling and complex history of zoos, and how their colonial beginnings sowed the seeds of captivity that’s now deeply rooted in our cultures, sold to the public as a fun afternoon with the family.
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“With fresh eyes, this documentary challenges the stories, myths, and misconceptions we have always been told - stories that have been controlled by the zoos, until now.”
The documentary makers said the movie will lift the lid on the practice of ‘keeping animals locked up at the zoo for human entertainment’.
“Let’s celebrate his name and legacy to join together for the betterment of all animals on earth, including us,” the press release continued.
“Harambe’s story sheds light on the psychological and physical damage inflicted on our closest living relatives, who pay the ultimate price for our curiosity.
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“We are not just filmmakers, but direct action conservationists, having worked in the field from the Amazon to deep in the Andes mountains, we feel the movie has to be more than education.
“It has to help the communities that open their homes, hearts, and stories to us to share with the world. A portion of the movie’s proceeds will be donated to NGOs helping gorillas out of captivity and supporting those beings in the wild with every ticket sold, streaming session, or download.
“The goal of this movie is to ignite new discussions with the activists, NGOs, and zoos to create a conversation that can lead to change, and guarantee a better future for all gorillas and sentient animals worldwide.”
The documentary is now available to stream on Amazon Prime in the UK - and you can sign up for a free 30-day trial.
Topics: Amazon Prime, Harambe, TV and Film, Animals, US News
Claire Reid