On Sunday, July 3, the polar bear Arturo, the last polar bear in captivity in Argentina, who had become known for his unfortunate quality of life and had been considered the saddest animal in the world by an English newspaper, died at the Argentine zoo in Mendoza. . In the Mendoza zoo, where he lived, dozens of animals also died in recent months.
Arthur was 31 years old. He was born in captivity at the Colorado Zoo: his generation was the fifth to be born a prisoner of the amusement center.
As if life in captivity were not bad enough for an animal that should live in the ice, in 1993 it was transferred to the warm climate of Mendoza, where it had to endure temperatures that exceeded 30ºC and sometimes reached 40º every summer. . He lived with a female bear, Pelusa, who passed away in 2012.
A few years ago, the story and plight of Arthur the Bear became known around the world, thanks to a British newspaper describing it as “the saddest animal in the world.”
The heat constantly deteriorated his health and also, after the death of his partner, the bear lived alone. He was very depressed. That is why the protectionists began to fight for his release.
Finally, the campaign, which was carried out in 2014 and went viral on social networks, gathered 420,000 signatures for Arturo to be transferred to Canada. But the story could not have the happy ending it deserved.
The authorities of the city of Mendoza determined that Arturo’s health, delicate after so many years locked up and in an unfavorable climate, did not allow the transfer. In fact, the tests were never even done to determine if he would be able to fly, because the veterinarians suggested that the anesthesia required to carry them out could end his life.
Although in 2014 his transfer was prevented so as not to sedate him, Arturo was put to sleep on another occasion, months ago, by veterinarians from the Temaiken Foundation who came to Mendoza to assist him after the decline and lack of appetite that he had shown in recent times.
His health continued to deteriorate, until on Friday, July 1, 2016, the veterinarians who were treating him reported that his condition was irreversible and that his end was near.
When his life was extinguished, on Sunday afternoon, many of the protectionists who watched over him during his life were sad but at the same time calm, because Arturo was, for the first time, free.
A few days ago, the Buenos Aires Zoo announced that it would close its doors to become an eco-park. However, news such as Arturo’s death reminds us that there is still much to be done so that all the animals on the planet can live in freedom as they deserve.