After a long life the 16 year old Polar Bear at Midland Zoo passed away.

Homer was found dead this morning in Midland Zoo. Many were devastated by the news.

Homer the polar bear was loved by any Midland Zoo visitors. He was the oldest polar bear at the zoo. Zookeeper Sara Getty explained how Homer lead two 9-year-old polar bears and a 10-year-old male named Yukon.

Homer was an old polar bear but they are still determined to find the cause of his death. Dr. Shanda Lear stated, “The zoo will perform a necropsy to try to determine the cause of death. The results will not be available for several weeks.”

Midland Zoo prides itself on the environment created for polar bears to thrive. Their unique exhibits allow the bears to engage in natural behaviors, play in manufactured snow, dig in gravel and hunt trout in the chilled pool.

These polar bears are ambassadors for their wild relatives, educating zoo visitors about these threatened animals. Homer was a big part of that and had been for many years.

A memorial will be built next to the polar bear exhibit in honer of Homer’s passing.