Man in gorilla costume drags children around football pitch in tribute to Harambe

A man in a gorilla costume swings a child by the arm at a Cincinnati school. Photo / Imgur, TheAmazingSky

Harambe the gorilla has become a controversial mascot for a Cincinnati school's football team.

The male silverback gorilla was shot dead in at Cincinnati Zoo in May after a young child fell into his enclosure.

Images and videos have emerged on social media showing a person dressed in a gorilla outfit at the school's football game, the Independent reports.

Images show the gorilla dragging a child by the arm around the football pitch, similar to the way in which Harambe dragged the 3-year-old around his enclosure.

Harambe the silverback gorilla stands over the boy that crawled into his enclosure. Photo / WLWT

The mascot was also seen chasing after someone in a banana costume who was carrying a sign that read: "RIP Harambe".

Harambe's memory has been kept alive through various tributes across the globe.

Cincinnati Zoo has been forced to close its social media accounts after they were inundated with memes, online petitions and signs.

- nzherald.co.nz