Monkey Brawl At Zoo Leaves Beloved Chimp Dead

[matcom]

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Herman, a beloved chimpanzee at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, was killed in a fight with another chimp. He was 42.

Herman underwent hours of surgery following the fight Thursday and died Thursday night.

Rukiya, a 26-year-old female chimp who tried to interevene in the fight, received injuries requiring stitches. She was expected to recover.

It was unclear what caused the fight between Herman and Bamboo, another older chimp who has lived at the zoo for five years. Lowry Park Zoo officials said Bamboo received minor injuries.

In the social hierarchy of chimpanzees, Herman has been the zoo's dominant male since he arrived. Bamboo is believed to have been on the bottom.

The average life expectancy for a chimp is 50 years.

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