A polar bear dubbed the “saddest on Earth” has died after years trapped inside a sweltering zoo.
Advertisement
Arturo the polar bear – He was the only polar bear in Argentina.
The zoo said that Arturo had died of a general failure of its organs due to his advanced age.
The 30-year old bear Arturo, known as the world’s “Saddest Bear” had lived in the Mendoza zoo for over 22 years. His suffering was readily evident from his staunch appearence and stereotypic behaviors, but despite the best efforts of animal activists who worked to have him transfered to a zoo in Canada – where at least the climate would be somewhat more suited to him – Mendoza zoo officials refused to release Arturo. Many associations have deplored prison conditions unworthy which was submitted Arturo.
He was described as the last polar bear in Argentina, after victor, who lived in the capital Buenos Aires, died in 2012 during a heat wave.
Despite the mass of support behind the petition, officials said he was too old to be able to handle such a move.
“What we were trying to do with the petition was to give him some environment that he spent so many years evolving to live in”, MacKay said.
“Sadly, polar bears remain commonly kept in zoos in countries such as Mexico and Singapore, and until quite recently, Chile and South Africa”. He often exhibited stereotypic behaviors, repetitive movements that arise from the stress of captivity.
For many animals in captivity, things really are changing.
Friends of Arturo said they were devastated at his death, saying: “we were there until the last moment with him”.
Advertisement
Animal rights groups marked Arturo’s passing with some calls to end the existence of zoos in their current form. “You didn’t deserve this”.
