One of the most popular animals at the Seneca Park Zoo has died.
Aurora, a 28 year old polar bear, was euthanized earlier this week. The zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Louis DiVincenti said a necropsy revealed she had a deteriorating liver and a compromised gall bladder.
“Her condition deteriorated rapidly, necessitating humane euthanasia,” DiVincenti said. “We were able to confirm the liver disease on necropsy, but additional diagnostic tests are pending to determine a definitive cause.”
Aurora exceeded the 24 year life expectancy for female polar bears in zoos. She was born at Utah’s Hogle Zoo in 1989 and came to Seneca Park Zoo in 1991.
“The loss of such a beloved animal is difficult for the entire zoo family,” said zoo director Larry Sorel. “Aurora captured the hearts of staff and guests alike. She will be deeply missed.”
Aurora gave birth to four offspring during her time at the zoo. Three females: Anoki, Sila and Haley; and one male, Qilak. They currently reside at zoos in Maryland, North Carolina, Memphis, and Denver.
Zoo officials say Aurora played a crucial role in advancing assisted reproduction strategies that have been adopted by accredited organizations across the country.
“We are committed to helping protect this vulnerable species,” said Pamela Reed Sanchez, president and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society. “Over the course of her life, Aurora connected millions of our guests to polar bears and the challenges they face in natural range.”
The zoo plans to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan to bring more polar bears to Rochester in the future.