He was one of the emblematic residents of the La Boissière du Doré zoo (Loire-Atlantique), east of Nantes.
Aged 37, an extremely advanced age for its species, the brown bear Ursus is dead, announces the animal park.
Suffering for a fortnight, in particular due to osteoarthritis, the imposing mammal was euthanized.
“Ursus could no longer walk and lift his 226 kg.
Having lost his appetite over the last few days, we decided, in consultation with the animal care team and our veterinarian, to put him to sleep definitively before his condition deteriorates further.
The autopsy showed many lesions related of course to his incredible age, ”reports the zoo.
There are two bears left on the site
Born in January 1985 at the zoological park of Gramat (Lot), Ursus had arrived just before his first birthday at La Boissière du Doré.
He is the father of Meya, born in 2017 and still present at the park.
"It will of course leave an indelible imprint in the history of the zoo," says the Loire zoo.
The latter is home to just over 1,100 wild animals spread over 25 hectares.
In the spring, he opened a new space dedicated to his three bears called the “Valley of the Bears”.
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Nantes
Pays de la Loire
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