October 10, 2012

DENVER ZOO MOURNS LOSS OF "LOVABLE" ELEPHANT MIMI
Asian Elephant was Adored by Generations of Zoo Guests for More Than Half Century

Mimi, a beloved, female Asian elephant at Denver Zoo passed away October 9. Zookeepers had been offering her hospice care recently as she had displayed a natural decline in health over the past few months due to her advanced age. Born in India, Mimi's birth date is not known. However, at the time of her passing she was believed to be at least 53 years old, making her the seventh oldest elephant in a North American zoo.

"This is an incredibly sad loss for Denver Zoo and our community. A member of our family for more than half a century, she was a wonderful, charismatic ambassador to countless zoo guests. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed by us all," says Denver Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper.

Over the past several months, Mimi's caretakers kept a close eye on her. She began refusing food and medication, though medical assessments did not offer a specific diagnosis outside of advanced age and arthritis. "After long deliberations and careful consideration in late August, zoo staff began offering her hospice care, where they focused on providing her comfort and allowing her to choose how she spent her remaining days. She had good days and bad days and often preferred to stay in a private outdoor yard behind the scenes at Toyota Elephant Passage," says Staff Veterinarian Diana Boon.

However, on Tuesday, October 9, Mimi lost the ability to move her trunk and had difficulty standing. Having lost her quality of life, Mimi was humanely euthanized that evening.

"This is never an easy decision, but it was the right one. We watched Mimi closely and saw her condition deteriorate rapidly. We made a promise to her to keep her comfortable and decided it was time to say goodbye. We'll all miss her very much," says Vice President for Animal Collections Brian Aucone.

According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, the average life expectancy for female Asian elephants in zoos is 46.9 years old. Mimi was believed to have been born in India around 1958 before making her way to Los Angeles via a private individual.

Mimi had been a very popular resident of Denver Zoo for more than 50 years. On September 17, 1961 she arrived at what was then the City Park Zoo in Denver, purchased and donated by Helen Bonfils, then the secretary-treasurer of the Denver Post. The name Mimi actually came from the protagonist in the musical, Sail Away, which Bonfils also co-produced. At barely more than four-feet-tall, she was described by one newspaper as "so lovable 'you could take her right into your home.'"

Denver Zoo is home to three other Asian elephants, female Dolly, and males Groucho and Bodhi. During Mimi's illness many people reached out to Denver Zoo asking how they could help. In memory of Mimi, there will be cards and opportunities for friends to share their thoughts and memories here at the zoo or on our Facebook page.