Dec 13 2022
Homer, Midland Zoo’s Oldest Bear Dead
This morning, Homer, Midland Zoo’s 16 year old polar bear, passed away .
At 7 A.M. zookeeper Sara N. Getty found the bear floating in the pool of the exhibit. Homer was the oldest bear in general at the zoo.
“Homer was a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly”, zookeeper Getty commented.
The cause of death is still unknown. The zoo is going to perform a necropsy to try and determine the cause which results will be available in several weeks.
“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,” Midland Zoo director Chris P. Bacon said.
The other two polar bears, a 9-year-old named Yukon and a 10-year-old named McKenzie, were removed from the exhibit and are now being monitored by veterinary staff.
Polar bears have thrived at the zoo since 1985. Midland Zoo’s unique exhibit allows bear to engage in natural behaviors by playing in manufactured snow, digging in gravel and hunting trout in a chilled pool.
One response so far
Good overall, Marnix, but as I said in class I would probably not mention the “necropsy.” Scary and has the wrong tone for this article.