SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A 24-year-old monkey that died at the San Francisco Zoo on Tuesday is being remembered by caretakers as “a true favorite.” Lulu, a female mandrill, passed away shortly after undergoing an examination for ongoing health issues, the zoo said.
“She died shortly after being returned from the Zoo’s hospital to the mandrill night quarters, despite our efforts to revive her,” said Dr. Adrian Mutlow, Executive Vice President of Animal Health & Wellness. “Here, the other mandrills in the troop, including her three offspring, were allowed a grieving period where they could be close to her one last time.”
Lulu had previously been diagnosed with anemia, chronic kidney disease, spinal lesions, and abnormal blood calcium levels, Mutlow said. She had also developed a potentially cancerous mass located in her neck.
The examination on Tuesday did not proceed with removing the mass after preliminary lab results found she was actually much sicker than she seemed…