Chimp at Wellingon Zoo dies after fight with alpha

Temba had been hiding an illness to retain his position in the social structure. Photo / Wellington Zoo

Temba, a chimp at Wellington Zoo, died on Saturday night following surgery after a run in with the alpha male chimp, Marty.

Wellington Zoo posted the news on their Facebook page late last night.

"[Temba] was attended by our veterinary team at The Nest Te Kōhanga and had surgery to repair his leg wounds. Unfortunately, there were complications during the recovery and Temba was euthanised on Saturday night."

They said Temba had an undiagnosed illness which he had likely hidden to keep his place in the hierarchy.

"Chimpanzees have a complex social structure, and they tend to hide symptoms of illness to keep their place in the social structure which means he hadn't shown any outward signs or symptoms of illness beforehand."

Zoo spokesperson, Libby Callander, said the 21-one-year-old chimp was second in ranks to Marty.

"It could be that a regular rough-and-tumble got a bit out of hand, or that Temba was making a go for the number one spot."

Chimps enjoy the Christmas party just days before the incident. Photo / Wellington Zoo

Just days before the incident, zookeepers had thrown a Christmas party for the chimps in which they delivered sacks full of bamboo and food into the enclosure.

Callander said there had been a great outpouring of support for the zoo in the wake of the incident.