Val was found dead in her pen early that morning.
"She was starting to show signs of regular aging with lameness in her front left leg that included arthritis, irregular hoof wear and age-related breakdown of joints," the zoo said in a release. "Her care team was doing everything possible to make her golden years comfortable by performing regular hoof trims to help with normal walking and wearing of hoofs as well as radiographs and heat and cold packs for added comfort."
A necropsy will be performed at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine to determine her cause of death, the zoo said.
Val was born Feb. 14, 1995, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. She was moved in November of that year to the Sacramento Zoo.
The zoo is expected to resume normal hours Sunday.
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