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After deer, birds and langurs, baby gibbon dies in Delhi Zoo

Sources said that while the baby 'western hoolock gibbon' was merely days old, the exact reason behind the death of the animal is not known

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Western Hoolock Gibbon (for representation)
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The mood at the Delhi zoo gave way to gloom as the newly-born gibbon died on Tuesday. The infant gibbon is the latest to join the list of casualties at the country's largest zoo.

Sources said that while the baby 'western hoolock gibbon' was merely days old, the exact reason behind the death of the animal is not known.

Zoo officials could not be reached for an official comment, despite several attempts.

The infant gibbon was the first inbred of its kind at the Delhi Zoo. Zoo officials had especially brought two adult western hoolock gibbons' almost two years ago.

"The species is endangered in India and breeding them in captivity is extremely difficult due to them being finicky about their partners. The death has, however, led to yet another loss to the department and the matter requires immediate intervention," said a Zoo official.

The 'western hoolock gibbon' is an endangered species in India and usually found in tropical and sub-tropical forests of northeast India. The Delhi zoo had especially brought two gibbons, male from the Itanagar zoo and the female from Aizawl zoo, sources said.

Multiple animal casualties have plagued the Delhi Zoo over the past year including the death of migratory birds, deer, ostrich, giraffe and langurs over the last two years. Delhi Zoo authorities have continuously been accused of negligence by animal lovers.

Owing to the large-scale deaths in the Delhi Zoo, an inquiry is now expected.

Zoo sources said that while the birth of the gibbon had given the department some hope of rejuvenation after the constant 'bad luck', the death has added to the woes of officials.
Earlier in the year, the outbreak of swine flu in the Zoo had led to its complete shutdown since October 2014.

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