The aggression, said by zoo officials to be an act of dominance, was witnessed by a group of school children on Friday morning.
Melbourne Zoo announced on Monday the death of 33-year-old female gorilla Julia, after complications developed from injuries inflicted by a young male silverback.
The Herald Sun reported that a group of students witnessed the aggression, something the zoo claims is a regular occurrence in gorilla relationships.
"Silverbacks assert their dominance as a normal part of their behaviour. In this instance, the results of the aggression Otana displayed towards Julia on Friday were unexpected and unprecedented," Melbourne Zoo said in a statement.
Thirteen-year-old Otana arrived at Melbourne Zoo in 2013, having reached the age to leave his family in the United Kingdom.
Otana is still an inexperienced group leader, which may account for his actions and "unexpected and unprecedented" aggression towards Julia.
David Crosling / AAPIMAGE
BuzzFeed Australia has reached out to the Melbourne Zoo for additional information.
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