Agee, a 30-year-old polar bear at Assiniboine Park Zoo, has passed away. (ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY PHOTO)
Assiniboine Park Zoo is mourning the death of Agee, a 30-year-old polar bear who passed away late last week after a sudden decline in health.
Agee, a geriatric rescue bear, arrived at the zoo in 2022 after being privately owned in British Columbia. Although she lived behind the scenes and wasn’t visible to visitors, she quickly became beloved by her care team.
Zoo staff had been managing several age-related health conditions, including kidney issues, mobility challenges, and dental problems. While she had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, a rapid deterioration believed to be linked to kidney failure and possible infection led to her passing.
A postmortem investigation is underway to better understand her sudden decline. In a social media post, caregivers remembered Agee as a strong-willed bear who loved swimming, cuddling with her toys, and relaxing in her nest with her favourite items, such as cardboard boxes and hay.
Assiniboine Park Zoo is currently home to a number of other polar bears in the Journey to Churchill exhibit, as well as home to the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
