Senior bear at 27
Singapore Zoo’s polar bear Inuka found to be in declining health after check-up.
SINGAPORE: Inuka, the first polar bear to be born in the tropics, is in declining health, the Singapore Zoo revealed.
The zoo’s 27-year-old resident went through a health examination on April 3 and results showed that he has a stiffer gait that is particularly noticeable in his hind limbs.
The abnormal shuffling gait has resulted in abrasions on his paw pads, while age-related muscle atrophy is clearly evident, the zoo said in a statement yesterday.
Inuka also has arthritis, dental issues and occasional ear infections, though they are already being managed. Born in 1990 at the Singapore Zoo on Dec 26, Inuka would be well in his 70s if he were human.
Polar bears live an average of 25 years under human care, while male polar bears in the wild have a life expectancy of 15 to 18 years.
In the past three months, Inuka’s activity levels have dipped noticeably, the zoo said, adding that “he now prefers resting to participating in daily interaction sessions with his keepers”.
Inuka, who may be the zoo’s last polar bear, is scheduled to undergo a second check later this month.
“If results indicate that Inuka’s welfare is not improving with these intensive treatments, his care team may have to make the very difficult decision to not allow him to recover from anaesthesia on humane and welfare grounds,” the zoo said. — The Straits Times/Asia News Network