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The devastating impact of losing a child is etched across the face of Shira the gorilla in these heartbreaking photos.

With her dead offspring still in her arms, the mammal walks frantically up and down her cage in a tear-jerking attempt to revive the youngster.

From her enclosure at Frankfurt Zoo in Germany, the mother cannot comprehend the loss of her child.

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With grief etched across her face, Shira carries her child, gently shakes her and cuddles her close in the hope it will bring back the dead baby.

(Image: Winfried Faust/BILD) (Image: Winfried Faust/BILD)

The baby gorilla was just one-week-old when it died and zookeepers said Shira was behaving as a mother should during this period, caring for the tot.

It is not yet known why or how the baby died, but experts at the zoo have pledged to take the body for an autopsy once her 10-year-old mother has finally come to terms with the loss and let the lifeless body go.

(Image: Winfried Faust/BILD) (Image: Winfried Faust/BILD)

Zoo director Professor Manfred Niekisch said: "Last Thursday she was OK in the morning but in the afternoon she suddenly and without warning died. We have as yet no idea what caused it."

He also revealed how the bond between gorillas and their babies is extremely close.

(Image: Winfried Faust/BILD) (Image: Winfried Faust/BILD)

Prof Niekisch said: "Shira needs time and space to come to terms with her loss."

The devastated Gorilla was seen to sleep with the body of her child lying on her stomach and, when she woke, made fresh attempts to bring the infant back to life.

(Image: Winfried Faust/BILD)

(Image: Winfried Faust/BILD)

Tragically the baby is the second that Shira has lost while at the zoo, having seen her son Tandu die aged just six months last year.

The gorilla displayed similar signs of grief during that loss as she gently shook the body to try and wake the baby up.