Chimpanzee dies weeks after arriving at new zoo

Tombe the chimpanzee was born at Colchester Zoo in 1996

A chimpanzee has died just three weeks after being moved to a new zoo.

Tombe, a 28-year-old male, was transported from Colchester Zoo to Belfast Zoo in March as part of a conservation programme.

Belfast Zoo said initial findings suggested Tombe died as a result of a probable heart attack, but had not yet received the full post-mortem examination results.

A Colchester Zoo spokesperson said he sired one female chimp in 2009, so keepers would "take comfort knowing his legacy lives on here".

Tombe was moved to Belfast with a male companion chimp, Tumba.

He was born at Colchester in 1996 and on its website the zoo wrote it was "extremely sad" to hear of his passing on Friday.

Referencing the European conservation programme, a spokesperson wrote: "These moves are common in zoos and help to effectively manage populations of different species as part of our wider species conservation efforts.

"Belfast Zoo has a long history of caring for chimps and both Tumba and Tombe were settling into the group very well, which makes this loss all the more difficult."

Belfast Zoo wrote: "Tombe will be deeply missed by his keepers and everyone who cared for him.

"While his time with us was short, he was settling in well and we are pleased to share that Tumba has integrated into the wider chimpanzee troop, where he is thriving."