Workers are mourning the death of Homer, a 16-year-old polar bear, at the Midland Zoo.

Homer was found in his inclosure an hour after his regular morning feeding appearing unresponsive. Sara N. Getty was the zookeeper that found Homer and she remembered him as a playful polar bear and knows that Homer will be deeply missed.

The cause of death of Homer is not yet to be determined and a necropsy is in progress. The zoo director, Chris P. Bacon expressed her concern, “We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and the preservation of species are our primary goals here at the zoo.”