A French gorilla who died in Britain after being sent across the channel to woo London Zoo's female apes may have fathered a child before passing away, according to the zoo.

Yeboah, a 12-year-old stud, arrived at the zoo around four months ago on a mission to find a mate among three female gorillas at the zoo.

But he died on March 25 after suffering a diabetic episode, plunging the females - Zaire, Effie and Mjukuu - into mourning and depriving them of their second mate in less than two years.

But, zoo keepers said they believed the (127-kilogramme) blackback gorilla may have left a little something behind before departing for the afterlife.

"We believe that one of the gorillas might be pregnant but it is unconfirmed as yet," said a zoo official.

The zoo believes Mjukuu, the youngest of the three, may be expecting, she said.

The death of Yeboah, who stomped into town from La Boissiere Du Dore zoo in western France in late November, came after the female's last silverback mate Bobby passed away in December 2008.