Grief in the Karlsruhe Zoo: Eisbär Cape died at the age of 24!

Grief in the Karlsruhe Zoo: Eisbär Cape died at the age of 24!

Karlsruhe, Deutschland - The Karlsruhe Zoo mourns the loss of his oldest male polar bears Cape, which was put to sleep on July 16, 2025. At the age of 24, Cape was not only a familiar sight for visitors, but also an important representative of the European Conservation Breeding Program (EEP). According to karlsruhe.de had deteriorated his health in the past few days. The zoo veterinarians made the difficult decision to redeem him after a last examination in which worrying changes on his liver were found.

Shortly before his death, Cape could no longer run properly and kept his head in a protective posture. This alerted the zoo team team, which gave him pain medication. As , the liver values of the animal were checked again, and without a clear view of the veterinary For the sleeping. His body will now explain in a pathological examination, which exactly led to his rapid health decline.

The zoo director Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt expressed his grief about the loss of Cape and was optimistic that this valuable bear could pass on his genes. Eisbears like Cape play a crucial role in the breeding and maintenance programs that are coordinated by modern zoos. The vdz informed that these programs exist for over 400 animal species and aim to secure the genetic diversity in human care.

Cape will not only be remembered as an animal in the zoo, but also as a symbol of successful engagement for nature conservation. The team of Zoo Karlsruhe will honor his memory while continuing their efforts to ensure the continued existence of the polar bears and other threatened species.