GUWAHATI, Nov 5 - A gibbon which was born at the Assam State Zoo here on August 2, died this morning.
�It died in the early hours today. It was just three months and three days old. It is a sad day for us at the State Zoo,� Zoo DFO Tejas Mariswamy said. The dead baby was separated from the mother around noon.
�The exact reason for the death is not yet known. Yesterday, I saw the baby and today morning we found it dead. Later, we came to know there was a fracture in the left arm forefinger of the baby gibbon,� the DFO said.
Mariswamy said apes are like human kids and they remain �very sensitive for the first few months�. Veterinarians said no major abnormality was detected in the vital organs. The viscera has been sent for laboratory examination.
It was for the first time that a gibbon was born at the State Zoo. It was born to Jackline. It was seen as a great success considering that gibbon breeding is extremely rare in captivity. The State Zoo authorities are planning to create a separate enclosure for gibbons at the State Zoo. There are three pairs of gibbons at the zoo now.
