Zoo suggests charity to support gorilla conservation after Harambe killed

CINCINNATI (WLS) -- The Cincinnati Zoo has offered up a charity for well-wishers to support after the tragic death of Harambe the gorilla over the weekend.

"If you are interested in supporting gorilla conservation in honor of Harambe, you can donate to the Mbeli Bai Study," the zoo wrote in a press release. "It is the longest-running field study of western lowland gorillas in the wild."

The Mbeli Bai Study focuses on western lowland gorillas in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.

Harambe was killed last Saturday when a 4-year-old child fell into his enclosure, forcing zookeepers to shoot.

There are about 765 western lowland gorillas in zoos worldwide, including 360 in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Program. Fewer than 175,000 western lowland gorillas are believed to still live in the wild, making them critically endangered.

The zoo also says that you can help gorillas by recycling cell phones, which reduces the mining which shrinks the gorillas' natural habitat.