HOMER, the orang-utan who passed away at Blackpool Zoo last Saturday, two days after his partner Hayley, may have died of a broken heart.

Staff were devastated at the news of his demise, which is the third ape death in just one week at the zoo.

Homer died of heart failure which zoo staff believe may well have been triggered by the trauma of watching his beloved mate Hayley die in front of him.

An orang-utan expert from Chester Zoo confirmed this was a likely scenario. He told The Citizen: "Sometimes orang-utans can get totally besotted with each other, and if this was the case with the two at Blackpool then it is quite likely that this tragic event could happen.

"Orang-utans are as complex as human beings and have the same emotions as us. Although they don't necessarily mate for life they are capable of forming long-lasting and deep relations with one another."

Hayley unexpectedly died due to a pregnancy-related problem. The first ape to die was Lomie, a female gorilla, due to kidney failure brought about by the kidney tumour diagnosed last year after an MRI scan.

Deputy Conservative group leader Ian Fowler had earlier expressed concern about the loss of the orang-utans. Mr Fowler said: "I think that to lose two orang-utans in two days is suspicious and I have heard reports that batches of disinfectant have been used around the ape house. Why are they using this if there is no problem?

"I have asked for autopsy reports on both orang-utans and I haven't had a reply yet."

Coun Roy Lewis, cabinet member for tourism, said : "Coun Fowler is trying to turn it into a political matter which it isn't. The disinfectant and bio-suits that were in operation were simply a precaution to ensure safety while post mortems were carried out."

The first set of lab reports that have come back after the post mortems indicated that there was no bacterial infection present in any of the apes.

Zoo manager Iain Valentine said: "We have an excellent record in keeping apes and have invested a huge amount of time, money and effort on these important and rare species and it has hit us hard to lose three animals in such a short space of time.

"All three deaths being unconnected makes the whole situation more hard on us."