Zoo's infant chimp killed by male in front of visitors

A female chimpanzee born March 6 that was being introduced to the adults in the chimp enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo was grabbed by a male and thrown to its death this afternoon. Zoo visitors witnessed the attack. The body of the young chimp is being left overnight with its mother, Gracie.

The zoo released a statement:

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is saddened to announce the death of a baby chimpanzee. The infant born on March 6, died Tuesday afternoon in front of zoo visitors. According to visitor accounts, an adult male chimpanzee apparently fatally injured her in their habitat at the Zoo.

The unnamed infant chimpanzee was the daughter of Gracie who has proved to be a caring mother. The L.A. Zoo houses one of the nation’s largest troops of chimpanzees within a North American zoo. The chimpanzees are managed as a wild troop of chimps with multiple males and females. During the first three months of her life the baby chimpanzee was gradually introduced to the troop. There was no indication of aggressive behavior towards the infant. Zoo staff was unable to remove the infant from the exhibit during the attack. Chimpanzees are strong and potentially dangerous so the Zoo’s policy does not allow staff to enter the same space as these animals.

Chimpanzee behavior can sometimes be aggressive and violent and the Zoo is sorry that visitors had to be exposed to this. Gracie is being allowed to keep the infant overnight to allow her the opportunity to grieve. This is a heartbreaking and tragic loss for the Zoo and especially for the Great Ape Team who have worked diligently to care for the infant and its mother since its birth.

The zoo had previously posted a photo of the mother and infant.