The oldest captive polar bear in the U.S. has died.
The Philadelphia Zoo on Tuesday said that the 37-year-old bear, Coldilocks, was in declining health and was euthanized.
Zoo officials said Coldilocks had a variety of age-related medical issues, including problems with her kidneys and eyesight.
However visitors wouldn’t have been able to tell, as the bear pounced playfully on toys, pulling them deep into her pool during early morning dips before she passed.
A female polar bear named Coldilocks, who was the oldest captive polar bear in the U.S., has been euthanized following a serious decline in the 37-year-old polar bear’s health
The Philadelphia Zoo on Tuesday said that the 37-year-old bear, Coldilocks, was in declining health and was euthanized
Zoo officials said Coldilocks had a variety of age-related medical issues including kidney, liver and spinal problems
‘She was really a great animal,’ said Dr. Keith Hinshaw, director of animal health at the zoo. It was ‘spectacular’ for Coldilocks to far surpass the average 23-year lifespan of a polar bear, he said.
The bear took ‘a sudden change for the worse’ about a week ago when her appetite waned and her activity level decreased, Hinshaw said.
Medical tests performed before Coldilocks was euthanized turned up potential liver and spinal problems as well.
Her final birthday last year was celebrated with a party at the zoo. She was served a cake of peanut butter, honey, raisins and fish
Dr. Andy Baker, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said Coldilocks brought attention to how climate change affects polar bears. She will be greatly missed, he said
Coldilocks was born Dec. 13, 1980 at Seneca Park Zoo in New York and arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo about a year later.
Her final birthday last year was celebrated with a party at the zoo. She was served a cake of peanut butter, honey, raisins and fish.
Coldilocks plays with a container at the Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia in this January 2008 file photo
Despite her health decline, visitors wouldn’t have been able to tell as the bear pounced playfully on toys and appeared happy before her passing
The gorgeous Coldilocks was born Dec. 13, 1980 and has lived at the Philadelphia Zoo for most of her life