According to current knowledge, polar bear cub Fritz died from liver damage leading to multiple organ failure. The autopsy being conducted today at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research has yet to uncover any further findings. Fritz had extremely elevated liver enzyme values, indicating a serious disease. Finding out the cause of this liver disease is the goal of further tests. The results of the microbiological, virological and toxicological tests are expected to be announced next week.
“Our primary objective is to establish the cause of Fritz’s sudden death as quickly as possible,” said Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem. “Once we know that, we will be able to make decisions about how to proceed with polar bear breeding in Berlin.”
Bear curator Dr Florian Sicks reported on the state of Fritz’s mother Tonja: “Yesterday she was frantically looking around for her little Fritz. Today she was already much more relaxed.”
“The disease progressed in a very unusual way,” said veterinarian Dr Günter Strauß. “During my time as a vet at Tierpark Berlin, I have seen seven young polar bears reach maturity. Fritz is the first to die in infancy,” he added, sorrowfully.
