KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Knoxville Zoo is saddened to announce the death of one of its favorite animals. Mugsy, a male chimpanzee, died on May 16. He was almost 18-years-old.

Earlier this week, Knoxville Zoo curators and primate keepers noticed Mugsy was lethargic and not acting like himself. The decision was made by Knoxville Zoo staff, zoo veterinarian Dr. Ed Ramsay and veterinary residents, Drs. Matt Allender and Stephanie McCain, to take Mugsy to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Hospital where an intussuception and perforated bowel were discovered.

An intussuception is a telescoping (prolapse) of a portion of the intestine within another immediately adjacent portion of intestine. This decreases the supply of blood to the affected part of the intestine, and frequently leads to intestinal obstruction. The pressure created by the two walls of the intestine pressing together causes inflammation, swelling, and reduces blood flow. Death of the bowel tissue can occur, with significant bleeding, perforation, abdominal infection, and shock occurring very rapidly. A portion of the bowel was removed, the perforation to the bowel was repaired and Mugsy was brought back to Knoxville Zoo for recovery in the zoo's clinic. For over 24 hours, Mugsy was attended to around-the-clock by zoo veterinarians and although most of his vital signs remained stable, his kidneys were not able to recover.  Due to the progressing renal failure the difficult decision was made to euthanize him.

Mugsy was the alpha male at Knoxville Zoo's Chimp Ridge, where he lived with eight other chimpanzees. Mugsy came to
Knoxville Zoo in May of 1991 from the Los Angeles Zoo, and joined Debbie and Julie. Just four days later, Lu, another
male chimp, came to Knoxville Zoo from Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Fla. Mugsy and Lu grew up together from the time
they were infants and were hand-raised by zoo staff. The two males have been inseparable since their arrival here and were very close. Knoxville Zoo has also added Daisy, Jimbo and recently three new female chimps, Jackie, Benti and Bo from Cleveland, Oh.

This has been a difficult time for staff at Knoxville Zoo. Sympathy and caring thoughts may be sent to Mugsy's keepers
and the rest of his caregivers at Knoxville Zoo; Attn: Thoughts for Mugsy; Knoxville Zoo; P.O. Box 6040;
Knoxville, TN 37914.

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392A from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.