St. Louis Zoo officials say Ernie, a 21-year-old grizzly bear the zoo adopted in 1991 after his mother was shot by an Alaska wildlife agent, had to be euthanized Thursday due to severe abdominal problems. (Courtesy St. Louis Zoo) |
ST. LOUIS—
A popular resident of the St. Louis Zoo has died.The zoo says the 21-year-old grizzly bear Ernie had to be euthanized due to a severe abdominal ailment. The bear was put to death Thursday, but it wasn't announced until Tuesday.
The zoo says Ernie began showing signs of declining health in May. Medical treatments didn't work, and surgery on Thursday showed the condition was likely untreatable.
Ernie and a brother, Bert, were adopted by the zoo in 1991. They were orphaned in Alaska after their mother was shot by a state wildlife agent because she was raiding homes near Anchorage.
