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Mandrill Dies at California Zoo

Incident Date:
09/02/2026
Location:
San Francisco, CA - USA
Facility Name:
San Francisco Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Primates
Animal:
Mandrill
Animal disposition:
Dead

Summary:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A mandrill and long-time resident of the San Francisco Zoo has died after worsening health conditions, the zoo announced on Wednesday.

Lulu, a 24-year-old female mandrill, died on Tuesday after a medical procedure. The zoo said in a press statement that Lulu was evaluated for a possible cancerous growth on her neck after being diagnosed over the past year with anemia, kidney disease, spinal lesions, and abnormal blood calcium levels.

Lulu died after the mass was removed from her neck, the zoo said. While test results from the growth were not yet available, initial blood tests showed her other conditions had worsened. She died shortly after being returned to her enclosure despite life-saving efforts including CPR and advanced life support, the zoo said.

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