Manor House Wildlife Park announced the sad news that Steve the Gibbon passed away over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Steve the Gibbon rose to fame back in 2010, when he featured on ITV’s six-part series Anna’s Welsh Zoo, which followed presenter and interior designer Anna Ryder Richardson and her husband Colin after they had taken over the park in St. Florence.

Steve’s romance with his beloved fellow gibbon Lisa, saw the celebrity couple enjoy the high life after finally settling down into their home, after months of waiting for the couple to cross the bridge into their newly constructed island paradise, with their son Bryn born soon after.

“Yesterday (Sunday) morning we woke to the devastating news that our beloved gibbon, Steve had passed away,” said a spokesperson for the park.

Steve who was aged twenty-four, died of natural causes in the early hours of Sunday morning, surrounded by his family.

“Steve was a massive part of the park, capturing the hearts of all those who met him. Over the last thirteen years we’ve seen Steve transform; when we first met him he was housed in a small, steel cage, he was shy, reclusive and alone.

“However, this all changed when we took over and moved him to his brand-new exhibit, allowing his true personality to shine through.

“We introduced him to his soul mate, Lisa and in 2010 he welcomed his son, Bryn. Steve showed himself to be a loving partner and a doting dad, and he will be sorely missed by his family.

“We’ll always remember Steve’s sing a-longs with Lisa, his kind and gentle nature and the way he used to watch us with such intrigue as we carried out our daily tasks in his exhibit - instead of swinging in the trees with Lisa and Bryn.

“Steve was much loved by all of the staff, volunteers and visitors, and he will always have a special place in our hearts,” they added.