The Detroit Zoo announced the death of one of its beloved grizzly bears.
The zoo says 13-year-old Mike passed away on Wednesday following months of health complications.
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Mike and his brothers, Boo and Thor, were rescued in 2011 after being orphaned in the Alaskan wild. They later moved to the Detroit Zoo, where they grew up together and formed a unique bond, the zoo says.
Mike started showing signs of discomfort earlier this year, triggering the zoo to implement intensive care and treatment, but his health did not improve.
“After exhausting all options and continuing to see a decline in his quality of life, the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him. These decisions are always hard, but we take comfort in knowing that Mike was loved and provided with the highest level of care during his lifetime,” the zoo said.
The zoo says its teams are working to understand the underlying causes behind the the bear’s condition.
“Mike was a truly special bear. Though described as reserved, he enjoyed playtime and his favorite treats, such as yogurt and peanut butter crackers. On warm days, Mike could be seen with his brothers soaking in the shallow end of their pool in the habitat,” the zoo said. “Mike was loved by all who knew him, and he will be dearly missed. This is an incredibly difficult time for his longtime caretakers, who are devastated by his loss.”
Grizzly bears have an average life span of around 25 years old, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.