Dynasties 'hero' chimpanzee David DIES after savage fight with rivals

The nation has been plunged into mourning after it was revealed David the chimpanzee from new BBC series Dynasties has died.

Viewers watched with bated breath on Sunday night as Sir David Attenborough revealed the alpha male had survived a nasty fight with his fellow troops.

But despite recovering and reasserting his authority, show bosses have revealed he was savagely beaten to death around seven months after the cameras stopped rolling.

Dr Jill Pruetz, an anthropologist and primatologist who has studied David’s troop in Senegal’s Fongoli savanna for 20 years, confirmed the news to the Daily Telegraph.

“He died from wounds inflicted from what I’m sure are these young males,” she said.

“There aren’t other animals that would have inflicted wounds like that – especially when you have multiple individuals attacking a single individual.

“He was very aggressive that’s why he held onto his dominant status for so long. He was pretty clever but our best interpretation of what happened is that these adult males jumped him.”

Dr Pruetz, who directs the Fongoli Savanna Chimpanzee Project, said the dynamic has changed since beta male Jumkin took charge.

She said she doesn’t know how she will move on from his death, comparing it to losing a friend.

Viewers were in tears on Sunday night as they watched David beaten to the ground in a fight with his fellow males over a fertile female.

But rejoice followed after David was seen tracking down his group a week later before reasserting his authority and welcoming a son.

One viewer tweeted: “Oh my gosh, I know it's ridiculous, but I'm heartbroken for poor David. His injuries are horrific, and to be left behind like that is more than I can handle! When his eyes looked to camera, the tears started!”

Another wrote: “I am close to tears over David... #Dynasties.”

A third commented: “Oh my goodness, poor David. I burst into tears watching him be left for dead by his group.... I'm not sure I can watch the whole thing. The rivalry between the male Chimps is awful and the clashes are so violent!”

Dynasties follows the lives of different tribes in the animal kingdom, including penguins and tigers.

Dynasties is on BBC One, Sunday at 8pm