The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tributes pour in as the old lady of Camperdown passes away
European brown bear dies suddenly after 29 years at wildlife park
One of Camperdown Wildlife Park’s oldest residents passed away suddenly yesterday, with tributes flooding in from Dundonians.
The park announced yesterday that 30-year-old European brown bear Star had died after 29 years as a Dundee-resident, having arriving from Highland Wildlife Park on June 8 1989.
The park, which has yet to state how Star died, posted a heartfelt message on its Facebook page.
It said: “With great sadness in our hearts we would like you to know that Star, our fabulous old bear, has passed away.
“Star was in her thirties and was loved by everyone who knew her. “She will be sadly missed.” Three new European brown bears, Brumm, Maja and Brumma, all aged three, arrived at the park in November 2016 after Star’s companion, Comet, died suddenly in August that year.
Thousands of people expressed their sadness upon hearing of Star’s passing. Pat Ellison said: “Sad to hear that. “She will be missed.” Pauline Bowman said: “Aww run free Star. You are with Comet now.
“You will be missed. Condolences to all the keepers at the park.”
Conservation group and charity, the Friends of Camperdown Wildlife Centre, said: “It is with great sadness that the centre have reported the passing of Star, our beautiful old lady, who has entertained visitors to the centre for 29 years.
“She will be sorely missed – not just by us, but her erstwhile new colleagues, who she ruled with the grace of an old matriarch.”
The death comes just over three months after the passing of one the centre’s lion-tailed macaque monkeys.
The attraction shut for three days to allow the monkeys to “grieve” the youngster, as tributes poured in from visitors and staff.
The park also had a female brown bear in the 1970s and ’80s, named Jeremy, who died in 1990.
Jeremy had starred in a 1960s advert for cereal Sugar Puffs before arriving at the park after being replaced in the adverts by a cartoon bear.
She had also hit the headlines in 1986 when she bit off the arm of 10-year-old Ross Prendergast, who had sneaked into the park after hours.