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Sydney Zoo was closed to the public temporarily this morning following the sudden death of a 10-year-old chimpanzee in one of its exhibit areas.

Staff at the Western Sydney animal attraction found the chimpanzee, named Mogli, dead in the moat surrounding his enclosure during routine morning checks.

An investigation has been launched to learn what happened with an initial review of CCTV footage providing no initial answers.

Advising that a post mortem would be undertaken, Sydney Zoo Duty Manager, Lisa Christie advised "Mogli was found in the chimpanzee habitat this morning by our team (and) we are currently investigating the circumstances.

"The team are in a state of deep shock and grief."

Crowds of people could be seen queueing outside the facility's locked main entrance while just metres away keepers removed the chimp's body from the enclosure, which is part of the zoo's "primate boulevard" attraction.

Chimpanzees normally live for more than four decades and the Zoo’s Primate Curator Lou Grossfeldt said the loss had been devastating for staff, telling media “today we lost a family member. Mogli had a personality that was larger than life. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, piercing amber eyes and cheeky smile.

“This has been a very sad day for everyone.”

Mogli is the second animal to die at the zoo in less than 12 months, after a three-year-old giraffe succumbed to a gut illness in June last year.

Early report that an ape had escaped from the Zoo were refuted by the operators.

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