The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Canada announced that they had euthanized the oldest polar bear in the world on November 17th, 2008 – Debby. The zoo’s star attraction was believed to be 42. However, it is not known if Debby was the oldest polar bear in the world or the world’s oldest polar bear kept in captivity.
The polar bear arrived at The Assiniboine Park Zoo on September 6, 1967 and became the most popular attraction in the zoo’s history. The Assiniboine Park Zoo reports “She has been admired by over 15 million people over the last four decades”.
Debby is believed to have suffered multiple-strokes and possible organ failures before the decision was made to euthanize her. Even though the zoo is lamenting the loss of the polar bear, including memorials planned in her honor, the Winnipeg Free Press reports that the zoo will not be able to get another polar bear as the polar bear enclosure (where Debby lived) no longer meets Manitoba Conservation standards for housing polar bears. The update at the aging facilities at the Assiniboine Park could cost up to $200 million.
With climate change continuing virtually unchecked the formidable polar bear may soon have nowhere to live except in zoos and other forms of captivity. However, Wild Animals in Captivity explains that nearly every zoo keeps animals in exhibits that are far smaller than what the animals actually need. Wild polar bears sometimes travel 50-100 kilometres a day hunting for seals, but zoos confine them in spaces that are more than a million times smaller than their Arctic territory.
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