A baby chimpanzee who was often ignored by its mother died earlier this week at the Honolulu Zoo.

Anuhea, a female chimpanzee born Oct. 14, 2004, died Monday evening. A preliminary necropsy showed that Anuhea had pneumonia, although more tests are being conducted.

Zoo director Ken Redman said Anuhea was the first chimpanzee to die at the zoo since seven adult chimps were brought to populate the African exhibit in 1994. Since then, three male chimpanzees have been born at the zoo and are doing well, he said.

Anuhea was the sixth offspring of Boo, an experienced mother who has a history of not being protective of her babies. Redman said the infant chimpanzee was smaller than the other chimps and did not develop at a normal rate.

As a result, officials separated Boo and Anuhea from the group with the hope that the baby would get bigger and stronger. But Boo's parenting skills were lacking, and Anuhea's condition did not improve.

"She was with the mother all the time, but the mother would lay it down on a little bit of hay, pick it up, and lay it down. Most mother chimpanzees will hold that baby most all the time," Redman said. "They're as helpless as a newborn baby."

Two weeks ago, a physician at Kapi'olani Medical Center examined Anuhea and found that she had rickets. Over the past few days, she became weaker and she died Monday.

"It's real disappointing, but she just wasn't in the greatest condition from the get-go," Redman said. "The mother was a little lost the first day or so, but it seems as though she's back to normal."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.