Sydney Zoo’s beloved chimpanzee Mogli found dead

CCTV footage has provided “no clarity” over the mysterious death of a chimpanzee at Sydney Zoo, as investigations continue.

CCTV footage has provided “no clarity” over the mysterious death of a chimpanzee at Sydney Zoo, as investigations continue into the cause of the 10-year-old primate’s passing.

Staff at the zoo were left in “deep shock and grief” after discovering the body of chimpanzee Mogli in the moat of his enclosure during their routine morning check on Friday.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the zoo said a post-mortem would be conducted to help find the ape’s cause of death after initial investigations, including CCTV footage of the enclosure, yielded no clues.

Sydney Zoo staff in the chimpanzee enclosure on Friday morning. Picture: 7 News

Ten-year-old Mogli was found dead in his enclosure on Friday morning. Picture: Sydney Zoo

“Sydney Zoo has reviewed CCTV footage which provided no clarity. The exact cause of death is inconclusive, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” the statement said.

Senior management at the zoo paid tribute to the chimp with a “larger than life” personality.

“Today we lost a family member,” Lou Grossfeldt, the zoo’s primate curator, said.

“Mogli had a personality that was larger than life. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, piercing amber eyes and cheeky smile. This has been a very sad day for everyone”.

It’s understood the Department of Primary Industries, who ultimately have responsibility for all animals on exhibition within NSW, is aware of the incident and have conducted preliminary investigations.

Sydney Zoo staff in the chimpanzee enclosure on Friday morning. Picture: 7 News

Sydney Zoo. Picture: Toby Zerna

Sydney Zoo again clarified earlier media reports stating an animal had escaped, saying the zoo was instead temporarily closed so the body of the chimp could be retrieved from the moat at about 10.30am.

Aerial vision shows a diver in the moat while distraught staff look on.

The chimpanzee troop is the key attraction of the zoo’s ‘Primate Boulevard’ section, which also includes baboons and spider monkeys.

Twelve chimps were flown in from Germany in 2019 as the first cohort to call the zoo home.

In the wild chimps can live up to 45 years old.

The zoo opened in December 2019.

In July last year a three-year-old giraffe Gigi died from a gut illness, described as a relatively common ailment for the massive mammal, weeks after arriving at the zoo.

In 2019, The Telegraph revealed that a chimp had died while in the care of Sydney Zoo.

Primate curator Louise Grossfeldt said at the time nineteen-year-old Melli died from an undiagnosed heart condition.

Earlier this year, a chimpanzee escaped from Taronga Zoo, sparking the zoo’s emergency response unit into action before the primate

Originally published as Sydney Zoo’s beloved chimpanzee Mogli found dead