Midland, 12/03/2019- 16 year old polar bear Homer has been found dead this morning at around 7 a.m. He was the oldest bear of three in the zoo. This is the third death of an animal during this month, but they are unrelated, according to zoo director Chris P. Bacon.

The polar bear exhibit is one of the main attraction of the zoo since 1985 and allows the polar bears to play in the snow, gravel and hunt trout in a chilled pool to simulate their natural habitat.

According to veterinarian Dr. Shanda Lear, a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Chris P. Bacon adds: “we will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died.”

The polar bears are ambassadors of their wild relatives and are supposed to educate visitors about the threatened wild animals. “Homer was a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly.”