Zoo staff left Heavy-Hearted as Homer The Bear dies at 16 years old
Homer the Bear dies after his last meal around 7 am this morning. Zookeeper Sara N. Getty found him floating in the pool after his feeding. Homer was the oldest of three with Mackenzie at 10 years and Yukon at 9 years of age. Both Mackenzie and Yukon were removed from the exhibit to be monitored by the veterinary staff.
“Homer was a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly,” said Sara.
There have been other animals that had lost their lives previous to Homer. Regina a 10-year-old bobcat died of renal failure last week and two weeks ago, Kenya a 6-year-old giraffe died when her neck broke while her horns got stuck in her stall. Senior staff veterinarian, Shanda Lear said, “The zoo will perform a necropsy to try and determine the cause of death. The results will not be available for several weeks.”
Zoo director Chris P. Bacon stated, “We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and the preservation of our species are our primary goals here at the zoo.”
OK for the most part, but I would not bring in the other deaths.
If the media asks, yes, then you mention them. But in this case
you want the focus on the response to Homer’s death, and
there’s no reason to suggest there is a trend in animal deaths.