Gus, the most famous polar bear in New York City, has died at age 27. He called the Central Park Zoo his home and lived past the average age for a polar bear.
Reuters reports that Gus has been living alone since 2011, when his female companion Ida died. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoo, said on Wednesday that he had been seen by over 20 million visitors during his life.
The group said in a statement that Gus was euthanized on Tuesday by veterinarians. “Gus had been exhibiting abnormal feeding behavior with low appetite and difficulty chewing and swallowing his food. During the procedure, veterinarians determined Gus had a large, inoperable tumor in his thyroid region,” the statement read.
Gus did live beyond the average life expectancy for polar bears, which is 20.7 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquarium, recognized Gus’ status as a an “icon,” adding, “He was an important ambassador for his species bringing attention to the problems these bears face in the wild due to a changing environment. Polar bears are apex predators – the kings of their domain, but vulnerable in a world affected by climate change brought on by human activity.”
Gus had been at the Central Park Zoo since 1988 and was born in 1985 at the Toledo Zoo.