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SALT LAKE CITY -- Muke the gorilla, a popular attraction at Salt Lake City's zoo since 1996, has been euthanized after a yearlong fight with cancer.
Hogle Zoo officials say the quality of life for the 44-year-old gorilla had drastically diminished over the last week. She was euthanized Monday.
"Over the last few weeks we opened it up for staff to visit her," said Andy Henderson, Animal Care Supervisor over Primates, "But the last final moments are very difficult. It's like losing a family member."
Surgeons a year ago removed cancerous tissue and excess body fluid from her reproductive organs but veterinarians said the cancer had spread to her lymphatic system and couldn't be stopped. Zoo officials had focused on keeping her as comfortable as possible.
Born in 1965, Muke was a Western Lowland gorilla. She had been paired with a male silverback gorilla, 33-year-old Tino.
Henderson said, "We did let him visit her before we took her away yesterday to bring closure to it. But I still think that he still thinks, hoping that she's' still around, you know, hoping that she's still in her exhibit."
The two bonded but never mated.
Zoo officials say they're already petitioning to bring another gorilla to the zoo.
This story was compiled with contributions from The Associated Press and Marc Giauque.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
