Gorilla accidentally hangs himself at Prague zoo

A gorilla accidentally hanged himself on Friday at the Prague zoo, five years after gaining the spotlight when his birth was broadcast live on the internet.

Tatu died in the morning while playing in a rope structure in the gorilla wing, the zoo director said.

"This is the most tragic event that has happened at the Prague zoo since a flood damaged a large section in August 2002," director Miroslav Bobek said in a statement.

Zoo employees could only attempt to resuscitate the great ape after they managed to chase off other gorillas from Tatu with a water pump.

"It's mainly the female Kamba, the oldest member of the herd, who stubbornly refused to quit Tatu," Bobek said.

The zoo has spearheaded projects to protect the endangered species, such as by raising money for the Dja gorilla reserve in Cameroon. It hosts a gorilla news website that accepts donations.

Tragedy struck the zoo in 2002 when unprecedented floods hit the Czech capital and the zoo, located by the Vltava river, killing several animals including a gorilla named Pong.

(c) 2012 AFP