Münster, Germany – In a heartbreaking scene that has touched visitors and staff alike, an 11-year-old gorilla named Gana at the Allwetter Zoo has refused to let go of her deceased infant, Claudio, days after his passing.

Claudio, just three months old, died from unknown causes. Since then, Gana has been seen gently carrying his lifeless body on her back, walking quietly around the enclosure, clearly unwilling to part with her baby.

Zoo spokeswoman Ilona Zuehlke confirmed the emotional behavior, stating that Gana is aware her baby has died but needs time to grieve. “She is mourning,” Zuehlke explained. “She’s been crying and missing her child. This is her way of saying goodbye.”

This behavior, while emotionally intense, is not uncommon among great apes. Gorillas, like humans, have strong maternal instincts and experience deep emotional bonds with their offspring. Staff at the zoo have placed signs around the enclosure to inform visitors of the situation, and a team member has been stationed nearby to answer questions from those observing the mother’s quiet vigil.

Claudio was Gana’s second baby. Her first child, born in 2007, was a female gorilla who now resides at the Stuttgart Zoo. Gana had previously shown strong maternal care, and her attachment to Claudio underscores the complex emotional lives of primates.

The incident has sparked emotional reactions online and on-site, with many visitors expressing sorrow and empathy. For some, the scene served as a powerful reminder of the emotional depth found in animals and the need to approach them with greater compassion.

As the zoo monitors Gana’s emotional state, caregivers are allowing her the space and time she needs to process her loss — a rare, but important act of empathy and understanding between humans and animals.