Cue the cuteness: Baby gorilla debuts at Philadelphia Zoo

– No, they will not name the new lowland baby gorilla born at the Philadelphia Zoo, ‘Harambe’.

Andy Baker, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said: “We are very excited to welcome Honi’s new baby”.

Since then, Harambe’s death has been an endless stream of viewpoints and memes.

The late Cincinnati Zoo resident has become the top suggestion as a potential namesake for Philly’s newest baby primate. “I’ll pray for you, but it won’t matter”.

Shearer says it could be weeks before the naming process begins, and once the names are chosen the public will be invited to vote on their website.

Philadelphia Zoo said they were “amazed and humbled” by the “outpouring of support and genuine excitement”. Once we have chosen names for the baby gorilla, we will let you know so you can cast your vote!

The baby was born on Friday.

Its 21-year-old mother, Honi, has been cradling it so securely that zoo staff don’t yet know whether the newborn is male or female.

Staffers haven’t been able to determine the baby’s gender, since Honi has been holding it so closely.

He might have been immortalised in memes, but many wish to see his life channeled through the birth of Honi and Motuba’s baby, too. Western lowland gorillas, which inhabit African forests, are listed as critically endangered species. The baby gorilla made its debut on Wednesday at the zoo. It appeared publicly for the first time Wednesday alongside its parents at the zoo’s PECO Primate Reserve.

However, Lombardo said, those hoping to name the gorilla after Harambe, a gorilla that was killed in May after a child entered its enclosure in the Cincinnati Zoo, could be disappointed. Candies pics show the little one nestled in his mother’s arms, as well as playing with his or her family. “Harambe”, one user wrote on Facebook. The zoo’s director, Thane Maynard, said shortly after Harambe’s death that staff were well aware of the firestorm.

We’re speaking, of course, about Harambe.

There has been no confirmation that Harambe will make that shortlist and the competition has not even opened yet.