Beloved San Francisco Zoo Mandrill Dies At 24: Officials

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Lulu, a charming, quirky 24-year-old mandrill at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens, died on Tuesday, officials said.

Lulu died shortly after returning from the Zoo's hospital, where she was being evaluated for a "myriad of conditions" and a possible cancerous mass located in her neck, officials said.

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"She was an excellent and caring mother," said Kyle Runzel, the San Francisco Zoo's primate curator. "She was extremely gentle and protective, and was a true favorite among her caretakers, staff, and volunteers. We were so lucky to have her in our lives. She was quite a unique mandrill."

The 24-year-old mandrill was born at the San Diego Zoo on July 24, 2002, and arrived at the San Francisco Zoo in late 2004, joining a troop at the Primate Discovery Center, according to officials.

She and Big Joe, a now 16-year-old mandrill, went on to have three offspring, zoo officials said.

Sometime in the last year, Lulu was diagnosed with anemia, chronic kidney disease, spinal lesions, and an abnormal blood calcium level, in addition to the mass on her neck, zoo officials said.

Despite being much sicker than anticipated, Lulu ate and acted normally with her troop, zoo officials said.

"Lulu was a beloved member of her troop and an amazing ambassador for her species and the conservation challenges it faces," Runzel said. "Her animal care team, fellow mandrills, and all who knew her will miss her deeply."

Mandrills are native to Africa's subtropical forests and are considered the world's largest monkey species, according to the San Francisco Zoo. They are currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

They live 12 to 20 years in the wild and 30 or more under human care, officials said.

Lulu's death comes a year after the zoo's oldest female mandrill at the time, Angie, passed away at 35, zoo officials said.

North America's oldest is Dora, a 34-year-old mandrill at the zoo, officials said.