Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Karlsruhe Zoo Euthanizes EEP’s Oldest Male Polar Bear Kap

A detailed necropsy has begun to uncover the organ failures behind his rapid decline.

Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Zoo veterinarians decided to euthanize Kap on July 16 after diagnostics under anesthesia showed worsening liver values and an enlarged gallbladder despite treatment.
  • His health had fluctuated over the past eight weeks with intermittent improvements that ultimately failed to reverse irreversible damage.
  • At 24 years old, Kap was the oldest male in the European Endangered Species Programme and a cornerstone of the breeding effort to maintain genetic diversity.
  • He fathered cub Mika in late 2023, a pairing that became a focal point for visitors when Mika debuted in spring.
  • The ongoing necropsy aims to clarify the precise causes of organ failure to enhance future polar bear care and conservation breeding practices.