Baby gorilla dies at Jersey's Durrell wildlife park

The baby was 18-year-old gorilla Bahasha's first birth

A gorilla born at Jersey's Durrell wildlife park has died.

Bahasha gave birth to her first baby on Monday 8 April but keepers believe the infant was premature.

A Durrell spokesman said: "Separating ape mothers from their newborn offspring creates enormous amounts of stress, and is avoided in all but the most extreme cases."

Bahesha is still carrying the infant and keepers are giving her time to grieve naturally.

It was the second gorilla to be fathered by silverback Badongo. His first, Indigo, was born in September to Hlala Kahilli.

Before that it was nearly a decade since a gorilla was born at Durrell, as Hlala Kahilli was the last gorilla to give birth in 2003.

A spokesman said: "The gorillas have been allowed outside access, to keep things as normal as possible, and we would urge members of the press and public to please refrain from disturbing Bahasha or taking videos or still images.

"Understandably, there are many heavy hearts around Durrell as an organisation.

"Every gorilla born is precious given their precarious status in the wild.

"In addition, to many of the staff the gorilla family is an extension of their own and cared for accordingly."

Badongo was brought to Durrell in 2011 to replace Ya Kwanza who had not bred in eight years.

Ya Kwanza was moved to Zoo d'Amneville in France in 2011 and is now heading up a bachelor group there.