KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Zoo shared Wednesday with “great sadness” that Dafina, a 24-year-old chimpanzee, has passed away.
Born at the zoo, Dafina was “beloved” by staff as well as her surrogate mother, Patty, and Rue, who Dafina acted as a surrogate mother for.
KC Zoo remembers the chimp for her intelligent, mischievous and sweet nature.
“Her animal care specialists will especially miss her food grunts for her favorite sugar-free juice and seeing her take a ‘bath,’ as she always made sure her beautiful hair was in pristine shape,” the zoo shared in a Facebook post.
Before her passing, Dafina received care for an inoperable reproductive tract tumor and secondary renal failure.
The zoo maintains she enjoyed a “good quality of life until recently.”
“Despite amazing care from our animal care and veterinary health teams, her health declined significantly in her last couple days … Dafina will be dearly missed by all her Zoo family,” KC Zoo shared.
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