LA Zoo to isolate baby chimps from adult males after June killing

Tad Motoyama/Los Angeles Zoo (via www.zooborns.com)

File photo: An adult chimpanzee in the L.A. Zoo exhibit cradles an unnamed baby female, first born since 1999. The pictured infant was fatally attacked Tuesday afternoon. In response, L.A. Zoo officials say adult males will be kept from baby chimps for safety reasons.

Los Angeles Zoo officials have decided that adult male chimpanzees will be kept away from infant chimps following an adult's fatal attack on a baby in June.

Zoo officials told the City Council on Tuesday they had adopted the policy, The Los Angeles Daily News reports. The fatal attack on the 3-month-old female chimp occurred in front of dozens of zoo visitors.

Prior to the attack, zoo officials said they been slowly introducing the baby to the troop and had seen no suggestion of a problem.

The officials say isolating babies will make the chimpanzee habitat safer for animals and handlers.