After Baby Chimpanzee's Killing At L.A. Zoo, Adult Males Will Be Kept Away From Newborns

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Adult male chimpanzees will now be kept away from newborns at the Los Angeles Zoo, a new policy adopted in the wake of the killing of a baby in June.

The new policy was reported to the City Council as a response to the June killing of a three-month-old female by a male as visitors to the exhibit watched, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

The infant, which was born on March 6, was the daughter of a chimp named Gracie, who was allowed to keep her daughter's body for a few days to grieve.

Zoo officials say there were no prior signs of aggression by the male to the baby chimp.

"Chimpanzee societies can be very loud, demonstrative and can have physical disagreements that can be intense," the zoo reported, according to the newspaper.

The change in procedure was made for the safety of the animals and their handlers, and officials are concerned that many visitors witnessed the attack.