Brookfield Zoo gorilla dies

A 13-year-old female gorilla has died at Brookfield Zoo, officialsannounced Thursday.

The gorilla, called Baraka, died Sunday, likely of an abdominalinfection, officials said in a statement.

According to the zoo, the animal began showing signs of illnesslast week. Keepers treated Baraka with antibiotics and had scheduledsurgery Monday in an effort to determine the source of the infection.

In the wild, western lowland gorillas such as Baraka can live for35 years. In captivity, life-spans are longer. One of Brookfield'sother half dozen gorillas is 43, another 36.

There are about 50,000 to 100,000 lowland gorillas in the world,mostly in tropical rain forests in western Africa. About 360 live inU.S. zoos. The species is considered endangered.

Baraka, born at Brookfield, gave birth three years ago to a male,named Nadaya. Western lowland gorillas live in structured familygroups. Typically, a gorilla remains close to its mother until age 5or 6.

Zoo spokeswoman Sondra Katzen said other gorillas seem to becaring for Nadaya and have been seen carrying the young gorillaaround.