Little Rock Zoo announces loss of baby chimpanzee

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Officials with the Little Rock Zoo said that a baby chimpanzee born Aug. 23 at the zoo died Saturday morning.

The baby, born to Kianga, a chimpanzee living at the zoo since 2020, was showing strong signs of suckling, and all indications were that Kianga was providing excellent care.

“Early this morning Zoo staff noticed that the infant was pale and notified veterinary staff for assistance. Kianga laid the infant down and staff were able to separate the infant from Kianga. Zoo veterinary staff then determined the infant had passed,” officials with the zoo said in a statement.

Zoo officials said that necropsy results showed an enlarged heart and head trauma, but it cannot be determined if the head trauma was pre or postmortem.

Lab samples have been collected for analysis to further determine a cause of death.

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