A very mellow behemoth, quite social and even-tempered, Dolly, the oldest elephant at the Denver Zoo, is beloved by the staff.

But lately she’s been feeling her age and has been moved into hospice care, where people are focused on making her last days easy and enjoyable.

“She’s having age-related issues, which are not uncommon,” said Brian Aucone, senior vice president for animal care and conservation at the zoo. “Foot problems, when you’re as large as she is, are exacerbated by the amount of weight you’re carrying on those feet.”

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Dolly weighs about 7,100 pounds, and she has arthritis.

Born somewhere in the wilds of southeast Asia, she came to the Denver Zoo in 1990. While her exact age is a mystery, she’s estimated to be about 52 years old — ancient for an elephant.

Life expectancy for female Asian elephants who live in zoos is nearly 47 years, and Dolly is the 10th-oldest elephant in zoos that belong to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Hospice-style care at the Denver Zoo has about 20 animals whose health is failing because of age, and veterinarians and zookeepers experience a close bond with the geriatric patients they’ve known and loved in their younger years.

Dolly suffered a loss of appetite recently, and her eating patterns have changed.

“She’s really loving romaine lettuce at this point, which is not normally a huge part of her diet,” Aucone said.

Balanced nutrition at the end of life is less of a focus.

“She’s nearing the end of her life, so we’re more concerned with how best to keep her comfortable,” he said.

Dolly now spends a lot of time resting behind the scenes of Toyota Elephant Passage, but when she feels like stretching her legs with a slow stroll, she can be seen in the exhibit’s Koelbel Family Elephant Parlor in the Clayton F. Freiheit Elephant House.