London Zoo's gorilla Bobby, who went to the capital from Bristol Zoo, has died.

The "much-loved" male gorilla was found dead in his nest by his keepers early Friday morning.

In a statement, the zoo said everyone was "devastated" by the loss of the 25-year-old silverback.

Bongo Junior, who was known as Bobby, arrived at London Zoo from Bristol Zoo in 2003, and had lived in the zoo's flagship enclosure Gorilla Kingdom since it was opened last year.

Bongo had lived in Bristol for two years since November 2001, and before that he lived at Rome Zoo.

Bristol Zoo’s assistant curator of mammals, Mel Gage, looked after him while he was at Bristol.

She said: “I went to Rome to work with Bongo before he arrived at Bristol Zoo, I then travelled back to Bristol with him and a female gorilla called Romina – who still lives here with us. When Bongo went to London Zoo we received Jock, our current male gorilla, in return.”

Mel, who has worked at Bristol Zoo for nine years, added: “Bongo was a very nice gorilla to work with - he was a gentle giant and a big softie. We were very sad to hear of this loss and we have sent our condolences to London Zoo.”

The western lowland gorilla, whose species is critically endangered in the wild, was described as a "playful but gentle giant" who liked leeks and bananas and disliked spinach.

Ralph Armond, director general of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), said: "Staff, volunteers, members and the general public are devastated by the loss of ZSL London Zoo's gentle giant.

"Bobby was a much-loved member of the ZSL family and leaves behind his family of keepers and three female gorillas, Mjukuu, nine, Effie, 15, and Zaire, 34."

The zoo will be having a moment's remembrance for Bobby on Wednesday December 10 at 3pm, when visitors and staff can pay their respects to the gorilla by laying a wreath in the courtyard.

Gorilla Kingdom, a £5.3 million enclosure which was opened at Easter 2007, was the most significant investment at the zoo for more than 40 years and allows visitors to get close to the western lowland gorillas.

The zoo has pledged to contribute £500,000 to conservation of gorillas in the wild from the development of the exhibit.

Western lowland gorillas are threatened with poaching and the spread of the Ebola virus in their west African homelands, as well as the destruction of their habitat.