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Ida The Central Park Polar Bear Dies At 25
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 4, 2011
Modified Jun 4, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 4, 2011
Modified Jun 4, 2011
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R.I.P. Ida (Photo courtesy of the AP)
Sad news came in late yesterday as it was announced that Ida, one of the Central Park Zoo's polar bears, was euthanized Friday at age 25 (allegedly living 7 years longer than a polar bear in the wild). She had been in the park since 1987, after being born at the Buffalo Zoo upstate. She had been suffering from a cancer-related liver disease.
Ida is survived by her male companion Gus—the duo were the zoo's oldest couple—and yesterday one zoo visitor told the Daily News, "I knew something was wrong with him." Though Gus has suffered from depression in the past (even called "the bipolar bear"), yesterday "he just stayed away from everybody." Recently Gus and Ida got a new "endless pool" to keep them happy and less bored in captivity:
And here's the couple during happier times, opening presents during the holidays in 2007:
You can visit Gus today (before the zoo closes at 5:30 p.m.), and maybe it's time Rachael Ray visit Gus again and serve him up some more tilapia on a block of ice (yes, that happened).
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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