Animals

San Francisco Zoo's Playful Polar Bear Dies of Old Age at 32

The San Francisco Zoo has lost one of two polar bears.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Friday that Piké died Thursday from problems associated with old age. She was 32 years old.

The average lifespan of a polar bear is 24. The zoo's other polar bear, Uulu, is 34 years old and considered the oldest polar bear in the country.

Piké, pronounced Peeka, was born at the zoo on Nov. 25, 1982 and cared by staff when her mother could not.

Zoo staff tells the newspaper she was playful and personable. She loved to eat and take naps, fish and swim. She didn't want to go inside for the night.

Arthritis and digestive problems, however, made life harder for the bear and the decision was made to euthanize her.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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