Homer the Polar Bear who resides at the Midland Zoo has died.

He was 16 years old when he died, the oldest bear at the zoo. Sara N. Getty, the zookeeper found him floating in the exhibit’s pool at 7 am, two hours after his feeding.

Chris P. Bacon the zoo director said “We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and species preservation are our primary goals here at the zoo.” To determine how Homer the Polar Bear met his end, Dr.Shanda Lear senior staff veterinarian will perform a necropsy to try to determine the cause of death but the results won’t be available for several weeks.

Even though Homer has passed Polar Bears have thrived at the zoo since 1985. Their unique exhibits allow the bear to engage in natural behaviors and play in the manufactured snow. The Polar bears are ambassadors for their wild relatives, educating zoo visitors about these threatened animals.