Arturo, an Aging, Depressed Polar Bear, Might be Sent on a Trip to Canada

Arturo, an Aging, Depressed Polar Bear, Might be Sent on a Trip to Canada

Since the death of his companion, Pelusa, in May 2012, Arturo, 400-kilo bear, has been crying and missing her. Pelusa was his mate for two decades and she died at an age 30. She had given birth to several cubs, but none of them survived.

Argentina is having summer season now, which might be another reason that Arturo is feeling exhausted and hot. To refresh his mood, he might be sent to Canada. The depressed polar bear lives at a zoo in Mendoza, which is at the base of the Andes in western Argentina.

Arturo was born in the United States in 1985 and later, he was brought in Mendoza, a city of 120,000, famous for its wine production.

Veterinarians from Canada, Chile and Argentina will see the polar bear and will tell whether the 29-year-old animal is fit enough to endure a long trip to Canada or not. A zoo in Winnipeg has given a proposal to adopt him.

His companion bear died a terrible death because of high temperature, which was 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) at that time. The bear died at the Buenos Aires zoo during Christmas 2012.

Within past 20 years, Arturo has accustomed with the hot summers and mild winters of Mendoza. But now, the main concern is that if the bear is shifted to Canada then would he be able to adjust himself to the lower temperature there.

Director Gustavo Pronotto said that besides age factor, Arturo is otherwise fit and healthy. Arturo is given 15 kilos of meat every day and all the fruit and vegetables that he can eat at the Mendoza zoo. He is fond of eating honey and if in case, caretakers are late in serving him food, Arturo growls to grab their attention.

He lives in an air-conditioned 35-square-meter (375-square-foot), which is an enclosed space, a 500-square-meter beach and a swimming pool in which his guards throw chunks of ice so as to provide him with cooler environment.

In a campaign to transfer Arturo urgently to Canada, Greenpeace has gathered the support of 160,000 people. About 60% of the world's 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live in Canada. The areas of Canada populated with polar bears include those sharing border with Russia, the United States (Alaska), Norway and the Danish territory of Greenland.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) has classified polar bears as 'vulnerable' and is also the planet's largest land-based predator.
Authorities in the province of Mendoza, which owns the zoo, have given their approval on the bear shifting to Canada. But, the final decision will be taken after the veterinarians inspect the situation.

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