This is heartbreaking news.
One of Dublin Zoo's longest residents has passed away due to an unforeseen illness.
The western lowland gorilla, who was named Lena, has been a member of the zoo's gorilla pack since 1988 - when she was just four-years-old. It is still not known how the 35-year-old mammal passed away.
The zoo’s director, Leo Oosterweghel, told
Newstalk: “The unexpected loss of our ageing, female western lowland gorilla Lena was very upsetting.
"She was 35 years old and had given birth seven times since arriving at Dublin Zoo.”
"The team at Dublin Zoo is extremely saddened by this loss," he added.
Lena had been receiving around-the-clock care since last month when she first fell ill. Tests are currently being carried out to determine the cause of her death.
