Female gorilla at Topeka Zoo with cancer is euthanized

According to the zoo, the gorilla "handled the anesthesia well", allowing surgeons ample time to check on other issues that may have caused her sudden change in behavior.

The zoo said in a statement Sunday that surgeons who were determining the extent of Tiffany's cancer found that it had spread, prompting their decision not to awaken her from surgery.

A longtime inhabitant of the Topeka Zoo has passed away.

The 49-year-old gorilla died just before 3 p.m. She then returned to the Topeka Zoo, where she remained.

After a long fight and a surgical procedure, Tiffany was euthanized August 20 after surgeons determined the cancer had metastasized to her abdominal wall. The results revealed that she had two abdominal masses that were eventually found to be tumors associated with stage 4 ovarian cancer. While performing a surgery to remove the tumors, the doctors paused the procedure and later decided that not waking her up after surgery was the best course of action.

"We just could not see an appropriate way to administer a regimen of chemotherapy to treat the cancer", said Wiley.

The zoo said staff reported on Friday that the gorilla wasn't acting like herself. Zoo members and those who loved Tiffany shared their experiences with the animal after the zoo announced her death.

"Tiffany was loved by many, even receiving special birthday and Christmas gifts from many of you", the zoo site said. Since then, she spent most of her time at the Topeka Zoo, except for the years when she was at the Buffalo Zoo in NY in the 1980s. "She was nothing short of incredible and will certainly never be forgotten", Topeka Zoo said in a statement.