Denver Zoo euthanizes 27-year-old sea lion Gidget

The Denver Zoo says a popular 27-year-old California sea lion that was euthanized had had difficulty moving and was refusing food and medication before she died.

Gidget was euthanized Wednesday.

She had been featured in a KUSA-TV sports segment in which she would predict the winner of each Denver Broncos game by choosing between two team-logoed footballs every week. She wasn’t always accurate. She retired from forecasting in 2010.

Before she died, she had been diagnosed with arthritis, and veterinary staff had been treating her with anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers.

Gidget was born at Denver Zoo on June 17, 1985. The zoo still has three other sea lions.