India's oldest chimpanzee Rita dies at Delhi zoo

India's oldest chimpanzee Rita, who h t been keeping well for over two months, died at Delhi Zoo on Tuesday due to multiple-organ failure, officials said.

59-year-old chimpanzee was t eating properly since July 27, and was put on a liquid diet. animal died at 12.15 pm, a Delhi zoo official said.

On aver, a chimpanzee has a lifespan of around 50 years. Following chimpanzee's death, Delhi zoo has cancelled inaugural function of Wildlife Week.

"Rita h only been consuming juice, coconut water and milk with ground almonds and walnuts. We h provided her a pillow, blanket, mattress, air-mattress, waterbed and a TV for watching videos," Delhi Zoo's curator Riyaz Khan said.

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A panel of veterinary officials, including Nitant Paunikar from Delhi government's animal husbandry department and Mrilalini Saini from Central Zoo Authority, conducted post-mortem.

" cause of death was multiple-organ failure. tissues of her organs have been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, for furr examination," Khan said.

"Rita was eldest member of Delhi zoo family and our constant mate for many years. Bidding a tearful farewell, zoo staff placed a garland for to chimp," he said.

Born on December 12, 1960, in Amsterdam Zoo and acquired by Delhi zoo in 1990, Rita was oldest chimp in India and probably "oldest in Asia", according to Limca Book of Records.

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Earlier, veterinary specialists from Chhatbir Zoo in Chandigarh, Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, School of Wildlife and Forensic and Health in Jabalpur, and Luckw Zoo visited chimpanzee and gave suggestions for treatment. 

Last week, a woman, who claims to be an animal rights activist, moved Delhi High Court alleging negligence in Rita's treatment. She h alleged that zoo staff was hiding something and t giving proper treatment to chimp.

It h prompted Delhi zoo ministration to install a CCTV camera inside Rita's enclosure and a 55-inch TV screen outside gate for everyone to watch how staff was taking care of animal. PTI GVS