A chimpanzee at Edinburgh Zoo has died after a fight broke out in the ape’s enclosure.

Rene, a 31-year-old male, was severely injured in the brawl and died last week.

Fellow chimp Qafzeh was also hurt and required surgery. The ape is said to be doing well and is gradually being reintroduced to the troop.

Edinburgh Zoo, which is run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said the keepers attempted to intervene and stop the fight, but Rene could not be saved.

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In a statement released online on Monday, the visitor attraction said: “We’re sad to share the news that Rene, one of our chimpanzees, sadly passed away last week after an altercation within the troop.

“Chimp group dynamics are incredibly complex and Rene, who was 31 years old, was part of a fight which broke out within the troop.

“This type of behaviour occurs in the wild, especially around breeding time when females are in season and when males are challenging for dominance of the group.

“Our expert keepers did everything they could to separate the fight and keep the rest of the troop safe, but sadly Rene’s injuries were severe.”

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The zoo said Rene was a “huge personality”, adding that he “will be missed by those who cared for him”.

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