The 16 year old polar bear, Homer, died in Midland zoo this morning being the oldest polar bear there.

At 7 A.M. zookeeper, Sara N. Getty, found Homer floating in the pool an hour after his feeding. Homer was the oldest polar bear in the zoo. Getty describes him as “Homer was a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly.”

The cause of death is unknown and according to senior staff veterinarian, Shanda Lear, it will take a couple of weeks before there will be any result. The director of the zoo is very determined to get to know why Homer died. He says, “we will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died.”

Midland Zoo have thrived with polar bears since 1985, where the bears are allowed to engage in natural behaviors. Polar bears is a threatened species and Chris Bacon, the director, says “Animal welfare and preservation of species are our primary goals here at the zoo.”

Homer’s two co-living polar bears were removed from the exhibit and are getting monitored by the staff.