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SALT LAKE CITY — Super Bowl outcome-predicting orangutan, Elijah of Hogle Zoo, passed away last Saturday at the age of 24 during an exploratory medical procedure. Elijah gained national fame over the last years for his ability to consecutively predict the winner of the Super Bowl. He passes with a perfect seven for seven record.
Elijah was diagnosed with breast cancer May 2011. Over the last few years, Elijah has been closely monitored and undergone two surgeries to remove the original mass. He was also regularly treated with the same medication used for humans with breast cancer. Multiple ultrasounds were conducted in order to monitor the growth of the tumors on his lymph nodes.
“Eli was a model patient and allowed us to follow his cancer with regular ultrasound exams and blood collections during training sessions. He will be missed for his great personality as well as his cooperative nature,” said Dr. Nancy Carpenter, senior zoo veterinarian.
Not only was Elijah a sort-of Super Bowl prophet, he was also one of the more animated and interactive animals at Hogle Zoo.
“Eli was the class clown, a total ham. He aimed to entertain and please. … He enjoyed doing silly things to make guests or keepers squeal, laugh and scream,” said Bobbi Gordon, senior great ape keeper.
He moved from Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kansas, to Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City in 2004 when he was 14 years old. At Hogle, he has lived in a family unit with 23-year-old Eve and his nine-year-old son, Acara.
Brock Allen is a Montanan and a communications student at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is currently an intern at KSL.com. Contact him at olaf.sant6@gmail.com.
