PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The oldest polar bear in the country has died, the Philadelphia Zoo confirms.
Klondike was 34-years-old. She died Friday morning after officials say she suffered a substantial decline in her medical condition.
The zoo says Klondike’s health had been deteriorating for weeks and she had difficulty standing and walking after lying own.
(photo credit Philadelphia Zoo)
General Curator Kevin Murphy says, “We’ve been monitoring her quality of life. She had a serious decline in health, did a veterinarian work up on her including medications during the past ten days. Despite treatment, we were not able to return her to a good state of health so we opted for humane euthanasia.”
The zoo says, “In addition to the joy she brought our staff and guests over three decades here, she has been an important ambassador to wild polar bears, who are increasingly threatened by climate change and resulting shrinkage of polar ice. We hope she has inspired many to make commitments in their daily lives to reduce energy and water use, which will contribute to efforts to slow climate change.”
Klondike was just shy of her 35th birthday, ancient for a polar bear, they normally live to 24 in captivity.
(photo credit Philadelphia Zoo)
The Philadelphia Zoo says their remaining polar bear, Coldilocks, 34, now is the oldest polar bear in the United States.
