INUKA, the world’s first polar bear born in the tropics, has been put to sleep by Singapore Zoo.
The 27-year-old bear suffered from age-related ailments including arthritis, and his limbs became too weak to support his over 500kg (1,100lb) frame.
The zoo said this resulted in injuries to his abdomen and paws which did not respond well to weeks of intensive treatment.
A team of veterinarians and keepers decided not to revive the bear after he was anaesthetised for a thorough health check.
“Looking at all the symptoms it is quite clear that from ... Inuka’s point of view, he would have been suffering quite a fair bit of discomfort and pain,” said Cheng Wen-Haur, deputy chief executive of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
“So we made the only right call that we can make under the situation,” he added.
Male polar bears typically live for 15 to 18 years in the wild and about 25 years in captivity, the zoo said. Inuka was born in December 1990.
Inuka was Singapore’s only remaining polar bear and the zoo has said it will not keep any more.
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