A 31-year-old chimp named Rene has died after being injured in a terrifying fight at Edinburgh Zoo. A statement said keepers did 'everything they could' to try and separate the animals

A chimpanzee has died at a British zoo after a terrifying fight broke out in an enclosure.

Rene, a 31-year-old female, was severely injured by another chimp during the brawl, while a second required surgery. Horrified keepers at Edinburgh Zoo are said to have done "everything they could" to intervene to stop the clash, but Rene could not be saved and died last week.

The other chimp, Qafzeh, was treated by vets and is now being slowly reintroduced to the rest of the group at the zoo. He is said to be doing well.

Experts at the zoo said fights among chimps are more common around breeding season, as males begin to challenge for dominance in the group.

A statement from Edinburgh Zoo 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. Qafzeh also sustained injuries and after a surgical operation is doing well and is gradually being reintroduced to the group. Rene was a huge personality and will be missed by those who cared for him."

Members of the public have since left emotional messages of condolences for staff at the zoo. One wrote: "Poor Rene. Thoughts go out to you all. The keepers will be heart broken." Another said: "Thinking of all the keepers and the chimps as it will have a big impact and hopefully a speedy recovery for Qafzeh, I visted with my daughter on Friday and we loved watching them." A third person added: "Absolutely heartbreaking. Sending love to the keepers who I know will be grieving this loss."

Edinburgh Zoo is home to 14 chimps, which are housed in the Budongo Trail enclosure. It is also the base for a research centre in partnership with the University of St Andrews, which aims to advance scientific knowledge on chimpanzee cognition and behaviour. Zoos form an essential part of conservation efforts to ensure the survival of the species, which is considered endangered in the wild.