The laws of nature still apply in the sheltered world of zoos – where birth and death are just as much a part of life as breeding and conservation. But even though the circle of life is just part of the job for zoo staff, knowing that doesn’t make the loss of a beloved animal any easier. Last Saturday, keepers at Tierpark Berlin were reminded how closely sorrow can follow joy when spectacled bear father Carlos (21) died unexpectedly – just four months after the birth of his cub. As male spectacled bears do not play an active role in rearing their young, and Carlos had no direct contact with his cub, his death has had no impact on mother and son. The cub made his outdoor debut alongside mother Julia (20) just one week ago, and has been delighting visitors and keepers alike ever since as he ambles inquisitively around his home.
Experts at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research conducted an autopsy on Carlos at the beginning of the week. “It appears that our spectacled bear Carlos died of heart failure,” explains Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem, who is a qualified veterinarian. “Heart failure is not uncommon in carnivoran mammals – which include bears. The triggers are usually unknown, but heart disease is a symptom of old age that seems to affect some and not others. The autopsy showed that Carlos was otherwise in excellent health.”
In general, the spectacled bears at Tierpark Berlin reach a ripe old age, thanks to the high quality of life they enjoy. “At 27 years old, our female spectacled bear Puna is the oldest of her species living in Europe,” reports bear curator Dr Florian Sicks. “The average life expectancy of male spectacled bears is 18, but in human care they can live to around 30 years old.”
Background
Tierpark Berlin’s new spectacled bear cub was born on 26 December 2017. Spectacled bears have been living at Tierpark Berlin since 1956, just one year after it opened. During that time, a total of 17 spectacled bear cubs have grown up at the Tierpark.
Carlos’ little son is currently nameless, but if a sponsor is found, he or she will be able to work with the keepers to decide on a suitable name.
