Staff described the gorilla as a "bundle of joy"

Staff said Ya Pili, a four-year-old western lowland gorilla, had been unwell since the start of the week.

She was taken into intensive care at the trust's veterinary department and died on Friday.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out but the trust believes the gorilla was suffering from a viral infection.

A spokeswoman for the park said: "All those who visited the trust cannot have failed to enjoy the young gorilla's energy and love of life.

"She was a bundle of joy whose antics kept every one of her family on their toes, including the animal staff here at Durrell.

"Durrell has had very few untoward deaths over the years it has kept gorillas. We will share what we learn with our gorilla-keeping colleagues in the interest of supporting gorilla conservation in the wild."

The trust was founded by author and naturalist Gerald Durrell nearly 50 years ago with a mission to save species worldwide.