RIP Denver Zoo's Beloved Mimi the Elephant

Mimi

Sad news. The Denver Zoo's beloved Mimi the elephant was euthanized Tuesday night (Oct.9), due to her severe arthritis and deteriorating condition. "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 Brian Aucone, VP for Animal Collections at the Zoo.

Mimi, 53,  is survived by her best friend, Dolly the elephant, and all the zookeepers, zoo volunteers and staff that dedicated themselves to keeping her comfortable in her final months. Mimi went into hospice care in August when arthritis started to wear her down. Her final months were  spent enjoying life at the zoo's new Elephant Passage exhibit and being spoiled by her keepers, who let her indulge in previously forbidden treats like pink Kool-Aid and peanuts.We saw her cruising her paddock in September, and while she seemed frail, she seemed to be enjoying herself with a dust bath and nibbles of grass.

Mimi was 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.

"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. She certainly will be missed by generations of Denver zoo-goers.

Update on Denver Zoo's Mimi the Elephant

About a month ago word came down that the Denver Zoo's Mimi the Elephant was dying. We are happy to report that we actually saw Mimi yesterday, Sept. 23. While Mimi looks frail and walks gingerly, we witnessed her happily dusting herself and snatching some grass in a quiet, sunny pasture outside her barn at the zoo's Elephant Passage exhibit. Pachyderm volunteers told us that Mimi essentially is in hospice care, her decline brought about by severe arthritis. In the meantime, Mimi's adoring keepers make sure that all her wants and needs are fulfilled. Here's what else we found out.

• Mimi is medicated to help ease her pain. "She has good days and bad days," a volunteer reports.
• Mimi chooses where she hangs out -- inside her stall or her outside in her private lounge depending on the weather and her discomfort level.
• Mimi chooses what she eats and when -- her favorite indulgences are previously forbidden peanuts and pink Kool Aid, which she likes to both eat and dust herself with. Keepers typically don't feed nuts and sugar, but since Mimi is getting ready to check out, the rules are being loosened. As it should be!
• Mimi chooses who she spends time with -- if anyone it is her best friend, Dolly the elephant.

Teary-eyed volunteers reported that everyone at the zoo is grateful that Mimi was able to make the recent move to the new Elephant Passage exhibit, and that the 53-year-old Asian elephant enjoyed exploring the spacious grounds before she lost her mobility. "She could go any day now," said one volunteer. "So every day we have with her is a treasure." Kudos to the pachyderm crew for taking such great care of Mimi, a beloved fixture at the Denver Zoo since 1961.

Denver Zoo's Elephant Mimi Ill

I know this is a busy weekend, but we here at Dead Broke Denver are asking everyone to take time out to send prayers and good thoughts to Mimi, the  Denver Zoo's beloved 53-year-old elephant. She is  apparently very ill and in hospice care.  Zookeepers tell the Denver Post that while they hope she recovers, they do want to prepare her fans that the end might be near for the big girl, who has been at the zoo since 1961.

Zookeepers also say that Mimi is a decade older than the average life span for elephants in captivity. The beloved Asian elephant has reportedly stopped eating much and appears to suffer from sore joints and tender feet.

Mimi, and her best friend Dolly have long been favorites of our family, and many other Denver families over the past 50 years. Again, please keep Mimi and her zookeepers close in your thoughts over this holiday weekend.