India, May 28 -- Harambe, the silverback western lowland gorilla, was born on May 27, 1999, at the Gladys Porter Zoo. The White House wished the online sensation a happy birthday of what could have been its 27th birthday.

Western lowland gorillas are classified as critically endangered, and at the time of Harambe's death, only around 100,000 remained in the wild. The species generally lives between 30 and 40 years in natural habitats, while gorillas in captivity can survive for more than 50 years.

Who was Harambe?

Harambe was a silverback western lowland gorilla was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo. After his birth, the zoo organised a public naming contest, which was won by Dan Van Coppenolle. He chose the name "Harambe," inspired by the...