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Singapore puts down 27-year-old polar bear born in tropics

Singapore puts down 27-year-old polar bear born in tropics | iNFOnews.ca
In this Dec. 26, 2013, file photo, Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics eats his birthday cake in his enclosure at the Singapore Zoo in Sinagpore. Inuka, the world's first polar bear to be born in the tropics, was put down by the Singapore Zoo on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The zoo said that the bear, which had reached a ripe old age of 27, was in a fair bit of pain and discomfort from wounds on his abdomen and paws. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

SINGAPORE – Inuka, the world’s first polar bear born in the tropics, has been put down by the Singapore Zoo.

The 27-year-old bear suffered from age-related ailments including arthritis. Its limbs were too weak to support an over 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) frame.

The zoo said this resulted in injuries to Inuka’s abdomen and paws which did not respond well to weeks of intensive treatment.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which manages most zoos in the country, said Inuka was in discomfort and pain, and the zoo decided not to revive the bear after it had been anesthetized for a thorough health check.

Inuka was born in December 1990. He was Singapore’s only remaining polar bear and is to be its last. The zoo says it will not keep any more polar bears.

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