A 12-day-old baby gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died.

Zoo officials say the female newborn was taken away from her mother, Zuri, by a more experienced mother in the gorilla troop named Tabitha.

Zoo officials say the female newborn was taken away from her mother, Zuri, by a more experienced mother in the gorilla troop named Tabitha.
Zoo officials say the female newborn was taken away from her mother, Zuri, by a more experienced mother in the gorilla troop named Tabitha.
(Calgary Zoo)
Tabitha, described as a "supermom," tried to nurse the baby, but was not producing milk.

Black said zoo staff had been giving the baby supplemental feedings, but she died Thursday.

"What we believe happened in the late afternoon yesterday [Thursday], as we were working to separate the baby from Zuri for another supplemental feed, is that baby ran out of the very small store of energy newborns have," said Sandie Black, head of veterinary services at the Calgary Zoo.

"They don't have fat stores. They don't have adult or mature energy-handling mechanisms in the family yet and she essentially ran out of that gas."

The results of a post-mortem examination will be available within the next few weeks.

Stressful for the troupe

The conflict between the two grown females and the actions required by the zookeepers as a result caused problems.

"It was very, very stressful for the troop, as well as for the baby. Zuri's anxiety levels went up, and her mothering went down," said Black.

The gorilla troop was allowed to view the baby after her death, said zookeeper Les Stegenga.

"I took the baby and presented it to the gorillas and allowed all the gorillas to investigate it. Then, this morning when I came in, I found the entire troop sitting around Zuri and it was very touching to see them so comforted and quiet and everything was so relaxed."

Keepers expect the gorillas will quickly make the transition back to their routine.

Signs have been posted advising zoo visitors of the baby's death. Staff and volunteers will also be on hand to talk at the gorilla viewing area throughout the weekend.

Zuri was a first-time mother. The baby was the seventh offspring for her father, a silverback named Kakonga.

The Calgary Zoo says there is about a 30 per cent mortality rate for gorillas born in captivity, while in the wild, the mortality rate is around 42 per cent.

With files from the Canadian Press