A chimpanzee who was seriously hurt after other members of the group ganged up on him has died at safari park Beekse Bergen, park authorities have said.

“Conflict between chimpanzees is not unusual, the park said in a reaction. The chimp who died was 23 years old. Chimpanzees in captivity usually live to around 40.

Park manager Rens Willemsen said that some visitors witnessed the incident and  had reported it. “We could then quickly get the group inside and separate chimp Wouter from the others. But unfortunately he did not wake up from the anesthetic,” he told the Brabants Dagblad.

Attacks among chimpanzees also take place in nature. Most lethal aggression occurs between groups, where groups of male chimpanzees occasionally kill members of neighbouring communities, research has shown. But occasionally there is also aggression among chimpanzees who know each other and live together.

Wouter is not the first casualty at Beekse Bergen. Last year chimpanzee Stephan drowned in a moat after being chased by other chimpanzees.