Oldest known polar bear in the world dies at Point Defiance Zoo
The world’s oldest known polar bear spent his youth entertaining crowds at a traveling circus, then captured hearts when he found a permanent home at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
On Tuesday, 34-year-old Boris was euthanized after his health continued to decline.
Recent exams showed severe arthritis in several of Boris’ joints and multiple fused vertebrae in his neck and skin issues. He also had a history of gastrointestinal problems, as well as liver and dental disease.
“We cared for Boris as long as possible with a combination of groundbreaking medical treatment and daily TLC,” said Dr. Karen Wolf, the zoo’s head veterinarian. “But he had increasing difficulty getting up, had recently fallen, and his quality of life had declined dramatically. We did not want him to suffer.”
The 880-pound polar bear far surpassed the median life expectancy of 23.4 years for male polar bears cared for by humans. Most polar bears live 15 to 18 years in the wild.
Boris was the oldest male polar bear, according to records from zoos around the world.
He came to live in Tacoma in 2002 after being rescued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Boris was described as a scrawny, malnourished and mistreated bear touring with a traveling circus. He and five other bears were seized while the circus was visiting Puerto Rico.
Point Defiance volunteered to care for Boris, and he was the last survivor from his circus days.
“We took Boris from a bad scenario to a place where he had a better life, and where he could be an ambassador for the Arctic,” said staff biologist Mike Messersmith, who cared for Boris since his arrival in Tacoma. “He inspired people to help save his species by taking actions to slow climate change.”
Boris made international news seven years ago when photographs of him undergoing a dental procedure circulated around the world.
In 2017, he became a medical pioneer when stem cells grown from his own fat tissue were used in an attempt to treat his arthritis. Boris is believed to be the first polar bear to receive stem-cell therapy.
He was trained to help in his treatments, sticking a paw through a sleeve in his quarters so staff could draw blood samples to monitor his health.
Boris loved to mouth-wrestle with his best friend and fellow polar bear, 24-year-old Blizzard.
He enjoyed rolling in fresh wood shavings, splashing in his saltwater pool, batting balls and diving onto barrels and cans provided by his keepers.
“In Boris’ time here he touched many hearts, contributed to our understanding of polar bears, and hopefully inspired countless people to care about wildlife and conservation,” said Malia Somerville, curator of marine mammals and birds. “Boris was a big presence. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
A necropsy will be conducted in the near future.
“We want to take samples so that even after death, Boris can help us all learn more about his species and how to care for them,” Wolf said.
Visitors can sign a giant card in memory of Boris in the main plaza through Friday.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Oldest known polar bear in the world dies at Point Defiance Zoo."
