This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Hogle Zoo's oldest gorilla was euthanized Wednesday after his strength and comfort declined, according to a news release from the zoo.
Forty-two-year-old Tino had been at the Salt Lake City zoo since 1986.
Worsening dementia also was cited by zoo officials, saying Tino "often seemed lost and or confused by areas that should have been familiar."
"His behavior wasn't consistent with who we know him to be," said Erica Hansen, spokeswoman for the zoo.
"He wasn't quite as comfortable and was having a hard time getting around," said Nancy Carpenter, Hogle's senior veterinarian. "He was showing a multitude of problems and having more bad days than good. It was a quality-of-life issue."
For a gorilla, 42 years is roughly the same as 90 human years, and Carpenter said Tino had "lived a good, long life."
"We felt euthanasia was the best step," Carpenter said.
Hansen said Tino's skeleton will be donated to the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum at Brigham Young University in Provo. His brain will be donated to the Great Ape Neuroscience Project.
Hogle's animals that have died and been donated to the Bean Museum in the past have been enjoyed by zoogoers who "love to go down and visit" even after animals die, Hansen said.
Three Western Lowland gorillas still live at the zoo, two females and one male.
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