Voda, a popular polar bear at the Denver Zoo, died Tuesday.
The 23-year-old bear’s death was caused by chronic kidney disease, the zoo said in a media release.
“This is very sad loss for Denver Zoo and the entire community,” Craig Piper, the Denver Zoo president, said in a statement.
Voda had been under close veterinary observation because of the disease, and over the last few days she began refusing food, the zoo said.
On Tuesday zoo staff euthanized the bear.
“Unfortunately, she was getting progressively worse, and during an emergency veterinary evaluation, we found that her health was declining rapidly,” Dr. Felicia Knightly, the zoo’s senior veterinarian, said in the release. “We knew she was not going to get better.”
Voda had been at the Denver Zoo for 21 years.
While here Voda gave birth to several litters of cubs with her exhibit mate, Kavek, including Boris and Natasha born in 1999, Cranbeary born in 2001, and twin bears Koda and Nuka born in 2004.
The zoo remains home to three other polar bears: a male named Frosty; Voda’s sister, Soosha, and Voda’s daughter, Cranbeary.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
