Video shows the distressing moment chimps launch on their mate that fell from tree

Dramatic video has captured the distressing sequence of events after a chimp fell from a tree and to his death at the Kansas City Zoo.

KWCH reports that the chimp, a 31-year-old male named Bahati, was chased up one of the trees by the other chimps, but the branch broke as it couldn't support his weight.

The media outlet then claims the animal was tackled by other members of the group.

"It was obvious there was a lot more screaming this morning. Our staff went out to investigate and obviously saw that one of our chimpanzees Bahati was being chased," said Sean Putney, senior director of zoological operations at the Kansas City Zoo.

The footage was captured by a man who regularly visits the zoo and in the background children can be heard asking about the animals' behaviour, KWCH reports.

While officials say fighting is common in order to determine dominance, it is reported that on this morning last week agression was at a new high.

In a video on the zoo's Facebook page Sean Putney said, "As is the case with a lot of our chimpanzee mornings there were some skirmishes and fighting going on, which is a normal part of chimp day.

"But on this occassion he was trying to jump by some of the other ones while he was up in the tree, grabbed a hold of a branch and fell down to the ground causing some internal injuries and later died from those injuries."

Mr Putney added, "When you have 12 chimps out here, and climbing trees sometimes 30, 40, 50 feet in the air, the reality is a slip, a jump, holding onto a wrong branch can lead to tragedy."

The zoo is now looking at ways to prevent another tragedy.

"But sometimes accidents happen and they can't be prevented," Mr Putney said.