Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee has been closed since Friday, and will not reopen until Thursday, to give its 10 lion-tailed macaques the opportunity to mourn.

Writing on Facebook, the zoo announced it would close early "to work with some of our animals quietly" before informer followers it would shut entirely.

It wrote: "On Friday morning our troop of lion-tailed macaques lost one of their young members who sadly passed away.

"Lion-tailed macaques are a highly social species and as part of their natural grieving process have been guarding and preening this youngster which will help the whole group come to terms with their loss.

"We hope you understand that the closure of the Wildlife Centre recently, to allow our macaques time to carry out this process, is the right decision for our animals."

Dozens of Facebookers left messages of condolences on the zoo’s page.

One, Donna Mikez, wrote: “Well done Camperdown for putting the animals before business. Much respect to you all at this sad time.”

The 11 macaques, four males and seven females, arrived at Camperdown wildlife Centre, Dundee, in October from Belfast Zoo.

Lion-tailed macaques are endangered, and there is thought to be fewer than 4,000 in the wild. 

There are 47 isolated sub-populations mainly in the Western Ghats hills in southern India.

This is the latest in a series of such tragedies after a fire ripped through London Zoo with 10 crews and 70 fire fighters tackling the blaze on Saturday.

The inferno killed one aardvark and left four meerkats missing, presumed dead.

Following a postmortem experts believe aardvark Misha died in her sleep, succumbing to smoke inhalation as the flames tore through the surrounding area.

Dominic Jermey, the director general of the Zoological Society of London said employees were “devastated” after the loss of the “very popular” creature. 

And 13 monkeys died in a fire in Woburn Safari Park early this morning.

The blaze broke out in the Patas house at Woburn Safari Park in the early hours.

By the time fire crews arrived the roof had already collapsed on the building where the monkeys were being housed.

A statement by the park said: "Staff and fire crews attended the scene, however devastatingly for everyone at the park, none of the thirteen animals could be saved.

"All other animals within the jungle drive-through enclosure are being monitored, but early signs suggest that they have not been affected.

"An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire and whilst the park will remain open, the Jungle enclosure will remain closed for investigation."