Super Bowl ape Eli dies at 24. Eli the famous ape that was able to correctly predict the winner of the Super Bowl 7 times in a row has died at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eli whose real name was Elijah died of breast cancer.
The clairvoyant ape named ELi that was able to predict the winner of the Super Bowl for the past 7 years had died of breast cancer, according to Examiner.
Elijah the Orangutan was 24 years old. Eli who was born at a zoo in Topeka, Kansas, moved to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2004, where he lived with his offspring Acara, 9 and Eve, 23.
According to Senior Great Ape Keeper Bobbi Gordon, Eli was a great father to Acara. Gordon went on to explain that the orangutan was a funny animal who loved to play around and make guests and the keepers laugh. Here is what Gordon had to add about the passing of Eli:
“Eli was the class clown, a total ham. He aimed to entertain and please. He played gently with Acara and was very interactive with the public. He enjoyed doing silly things to make guests or keepers squeal, laugh and scream.”
In a statement issued by senior zoo veterinarian Dr. Nancy Carpenter, it was revealed that on Saturday, Eli who was battling cancer since 2011, fell ill.
The animal that underwent surgeries twice to remove the original mass, had a loss of appetite and was showing signs of discomfort.
Dr. Carpenter conducted an exploratory procedure and Eli died on the operation table. The vet said:
“We were hoping to find something fixable.The staff worked tirelessly, but the mass in his neck was blocking his airway and he succumbed during the procedure.”
Eli the clever ape used to pick the victor of the Super Bowl each year by choosing between papier-mache helmets or goal posts with team logos that were set on a table in front of him by the zookeepers.
The ape retired in 2013 after successfully knocking down a helmet bearing the Seahawks logo.
The Seattle Seahawks did indeed defeat the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl XLVIII which took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
While Eli the ape mastered the Super Bowl, we also remember Paul the Octopus (26 January 2008 – 26 October 2010) who predicted the results of matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
