Federal regulators have determined that the Cincinnati Zoo enclosure that housed Harambe -- the gorilla that inspired countless memes -- was not up to their standards.

SEE ALSO:People are wasting their good tortillas on supermoon memes

Harambe, an endangered gorilla, was shot and killed in May after a 3-year-old boy slipped inside the enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. A U.S. Agriculture Department inspection report released Thursday found that the gorilla exhibit barrier was not in compliance with enclosure standards, the Associated Press reported.

Inspectors said in the report that there was slack in the wire cables, which could be pulled apart 8 inches. The gorilla exhibit had bushes and other tall plants before a 15-foot drop into a moat.

The zoo's barrier had been considered in compliance during earlier inspections.

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletterBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

I miss you Harambe

— HippieQ (@NauerQ) November 17, 2016

The report also stated that the zoo's response was appropriate in order to protect the child. The boy was not seriously injured in the incident.

The family of the boy said in a statement that the report findings don't change anything and that they remain thankful for their son's safety and the "quick actions" by zoo staff, and "mourn with (the zoo) the loss of Harambe."

Tweet may have been deleted

Harambe became famous after his death, even garnering thousands of presidential write-in votes. A social media movement expressing anger and mourning for the 17-year-old male western lowland gorilla spread and grew vicious toward the zoo. Many tributes came in meme form.

Tweet may have been deleted

Social media attacks against the Cincinnati Zoo become so constant that it shut down its Twitter account in August. It didn't start tweeting again until mid-October.

A  memorial went up at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden after Harambe was killed by a zoo response team after a boy slipped into the exhibit.Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

Following Thursday's findings, a federal investigation will continue and could lead to fines or disciplinary action, the AP reported.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Pomeranian beauty from the last 100 Years

---

TopicsMemes