The Detroit Zoo puts polar bear mom to sleep following cancer diagnosis
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 07/19/2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich - A Detroit Zoo polar bear was euthanized Wednesday, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, zoo officials said.
The 27-year-old female polar bear, named Bärle was born in the wild in Manitoba, Canada but spent much of her life performing as a circus bear in Puerto Rico.
She was brought to the Detroit Zoo in 2002 and gave birth to her only offspring, Talini in 2004.
According to a news release from zoo officials, Bärle had extensive tumors in her abdomen.
Zookeepers noticed changes in Bärle’s behavior over the past several days, including decreased appetite.
Efforts were made to encourage her to eat, including providing her with favorite foods of cooked sweet potatoes and chicken but had no success.
Bärle’s death leaves the Detroit Zoo with three polar bears at the Arctic Ring of Life – males Aquila, 19, and Nuka, 7, as well as Bärle’s daughter Talini, 7.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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