- Heartbroken Natalia lost her baby chimpanzee in February, but can't let him go
A heartbroken mother chimpanzee still carries the mummified remains of her baby at a Spanish zoo, three months after it died.
Sad mother Natalia cannot say goodbye to her baby and takes the body everywhere in her stay in Bioparc Valencia.
The zoo said in a statement on May 10 that the baby chimpanzee died in early February, a common occurrence for the species that has a high infant mortality rate.
Chimpanzees are known to grieve, but this mother's grief is reportedly quite severe.
“This is a species where social bonds and group cohesion are fundamental, so all members are affected by these sad events,” the Spanish zoo said.
A grieving chimpanzee mother still carries the mummified remains of her baby, three months after it sadly passed away
“They need a period of 'mourning' and little by little they come to terms with reality and the loss, even though the mother may still need time to let go of even the inert body.”
Natalia gave birth at the same time as another female chimpanzee in February, and her second baby is alive and well.
They said they had hoped the other baby's presence would cheer Natalia up, but so far it didn't seem to have any effect on her sadness.”
The zoo said the group of chimpanzees is critically endangered and is part of a special program to save them.
It said: 'The BIOPARCs of Fuengirola and Valencia are home to the largest group of chimpanzees in Spain of the subspecies Pan troglodytes verus, critically endangered according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and playing a prominent role in the European program for their protection (EEP).
The baby chimpanzee died in February, with the species known for high infant mortality
Bioparc Valencia said it was doing its best to ensure the species could live in an environment that reflects their natural habitat as closely as possible, saying: 'It must be emphasized that the animals housed in centers such as BIOPARC are not pets are and are also not domesticated. .
'The aim is to preserve the species, providing maximum welfare whilst promoting their behavior and natural instincts.
“In that sense, it is necessary to take on the most tragic part, no matter how heartbreaking it is for people. Now efforts are focused on providing the group with as much peace as possible, with the certainty that they have already overcome similar situations.'