Gana, a mother gorilla at a zoo in Muenster, Germany, continued to cradle the body of her dead baby several days after it had died. Gana's son, Claudio, died in her arms on August 16, 2008, but Gana was still holding onto Claudio's body five days later.FOX News: Gorilla Mother Refuses to Give Up Dead Baby (August 21, 2008)
Typical Behavior
Zoo employees reported that Gana's behavior was not unusual for gorillas, who have been observed mourning lost offspring in such a way for weeks and, in certain cases, burying their dead.Mail Online: ...Heartbroken gorilla cradles her dead baby (August 19, 2008) (August 19, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
</small>
-
Fact:
Zoo employees believe that the Claudio died because of heart problems, but have been unable to perform an autopsyTelegraph: Gorilla grieves over death of her baby (August 19, 2008)
-
Fact:
Several zoo visitors were visibly upset by Claudio's death and Gana's behaviorNew York Daily News: Gorilla mourning her son... (August 19, 2008)
-
Fact:
Gana is eleven years old
-
Fact:
Claudio was three months old
