Shock as silverback Bantu dies after team of 20 vets prepared to take him to another zoo to mate
Investigation launched into mighty animal's death after docs tranquillised him for routine move
A MIGHTY gorilla has died as he was about to be moved to another zoo to mate with two females.
Bantu was sedated by vets at Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City, but died of cardiorespiratory arrest.
A team of 20 experts overseeing the transfer were unable to save the 24-year old silverback.
They have insisted that all procedures had been followed correctly.
Bantu was being taken to a zoo in Guadalajara in the hope he would mate with two females.
But he fell ill after docs tranquillised him, and he died despite efforts to revive him.
Mexico City's environment department have said there will be further tests to find out exactly how the huge gorilla -- who was the zoo's star attraction -- died in what should have been a routine move.
"This incident has caused great consternation among zoo personnel who cared for him for nearly 25 years", a department spokesperson told news service.
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Bantu's death follows the controversy surrounding the killing of Harambe the gorilla at Cincinnati zoo in Ohio, USA in May.
He was shot dead by keepers after a toddler fell into his enclosure.
His death led to a global outcry as some experts claimed Harambe had only been trying to protect the boy.
Little Isaiah Gregg, 3, was filmed being dragged around by the gorilla.
He emerged unharmed.
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