Kanook faces death

Sea World's older female polar bear may be put down as a result of kidney failure.

If her health continues to deteriorate, euthanasia may be the only option for the bear. She was one of the original bears at Polar Bear Shores when the attraction opened in 2000, brought from a Tucson, Arizona zoo as part of a world-wide breeding programme. The other older bear, Ping Ping is an eight year-old male from Beijing Zoo in China. Lutik and Lia, the cubs, were brought from St. Petersburg, Russia in 2001 and are three years old.

Sea World is currently looking for a replacement bear, which they hope to introduce gradually so as to minimise any stress on the other three bears.

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