Baby Chimpanzee Dies at Little Rock Zoo Two Weeks After Birth
Tragedy has struck the Little Rock Zoo as a baby chimpanzee born on August 23, 2024, has passed away at the tender age of just two weeks. The unfortunate event occurred on a Saturday morning, when zoo staff discovered the infant in a pale condition.
The infant was born to Kianga, a 17-year-old chimpanzee who has been living at the zoo since 2020. Initially, the baby chimpanzee showed strong signs of suckling and the mother was providing excellent care, leaving zoo staff with high hopes for its health. However, in the early morning hours, Kianga laid the infant down, and the zoo’s veterinary staff could then determine that the baby had passed away.
The exact cause of the infant’s death remains a mystery, as an initial necropsy showed an enlarged heart and head trauma, but it could not be determined whether the head trauma occurred before or after death. To further investigate, the zoo has collected lab samples for analysis, hoping to uncover the root cause behind this tragic loss.
This unfortunate event is a significant setback for the zoo, particularly since the birth was part of a breeding recommendation by the Species Survival Plan. The zoo will continue to explore the cause of the baby chimpanzee’s death, ensuring better outcomes in future breeding efforts.
