[PHOTOS] A Look Back At Inuka Through The Years As Singapore Mourns Its Last Polar Bear
His caregivers, both past and present, surrounded him in his last final moments.
By Tamara Jayne — 26 Apr 2018, 04:53 PM
It was a day of mourning for Singapore as the country's resident polar bear, Inuka, was put down yesterday, 25 April due to old age-related ailments
The 27-year-old animal had been suffering from arthritis, dental problems, ear infections, and weakening limbs that made him unable to walk
Struggling to support his 500kg body weight, he would drag his feet around which developed ulcers on his paws.
Inuka's rapid decline in health led the team of vets and zookeepers to make a very difficult decision - to not revive him from anaesthesia on humane grounds
In the past five years, Inuka had been put on a "senior care programme" at the zoo that helps elderly animals deal with the effects of ageing.
To everyone's amazement, he had surpassed the average lifespan of a polar bear, which usually live up to 18 years in the wild and 25 years under human care.
At 27, Inuka would have been considered well into his 70s in human years.
Inuka was laid to rest on Wednesday morning, surrounded by his past and present caretakers and zookeepers who loved and cared for him
"As much as we would like to keep Inuka with us for as long as possible, our ultimate responsibility is his welfare," said Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Life Sciences Officer of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Dr. Cheng Wen-Haur.
Due to new policies by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee, Inuka will be the last polar bear to be kept in the Singapore Zoo.
One of Inuka's caregivers with her hands on his large paw saying her last goodbyes.
Image via Wilflife Reserves SingaporeInuka, son of Nanook and Sheba, was the first polar bear to have been born and bred in the tropics
The name "Inuka" meaning "silent stalker" in Inuit was chosen in a nation-wide naming contest that had over 10,000 entries.
When he was a three-month-old cub, Inuka made his first public appearance.
"It has been a privilege and honour being his caregiver, but difficult as it may be, it would not have been fair to prolong his suffering," said Mohan Ponichamy, one of his keepers
"We see Inuka almost every day, so (suddenly), for us, we will never get to see him anymore… it's very sad," said a staff member who declined to be named.
He added that his fondest memory was of Inuka happily "munching" on salmon, according to Today Online.
Throughout the years, visitors have watched Inuka grow up and had grown fond of the bear.
Even as his health was deteriorating, Inuka's hopeful fans came to visit him with 'Get well soon' cards and notes stuck outside of his enclosure on 19 April.
"Over the years, he has brought so much joy to many, and we now share everyone’s sorrow over his passing," said Dr Lee Boon Yang, chairman of SPH Foundation, according to the Straits Times
You will be dearly missed, Inuka. :'(